[Pathology of the inferior vena cava and liver transplantation]

Pathology of the inferior vena cava is not frequently encountered in the context of liver transplantation. Such a pathology was observed in 7.9% of our recipients, in the pre- intra- and post-operative period. Pre-existing anomalies of the IVC consisted the absence of the retrohepatic vena cava in 7 children with biliary atresia; technical adjustments were quite simple. During the operative period, dissection of the supra-hepatic vena cava was made very difficult in 2 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis complicated by secondary biliary cirrhosis it was necessary to make a trans-diaphragmatic approach to the inferior vena cava. Post-operative inferior vena cava thrombosis occurred in four recipients, in three cases, it was caused by the inadequate size of the graft and major anastomotic discrepancy between the inferior vena cava of donor and recipient and in one case IVC thrombosis occurred in a context of allergy to heparin. Six of the 13 recipients with pathology of inferior vena cava died directly of indirectly because of these problems. Analysis of the causes of this pathology and their possible correction will perhaps allow better results in these patients who undergo liver transplantation.