Rescue Arterial Revascularization Using Cryopreserved Iliac Artery Allograft in Liver Transplant Patients

Management of hepatic arterial complications after liver transplant remains challenging. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of rescue arterial revascularization using cryopreserved iliac artery allografts in this setting.

Medical records of patients with liver transplants who underwent rescue arterial revascularization using cryopreserved iliac artery allografts at a single institution were reviewed.

From 1992 to 2015, 7 patients underwent rescue arterial revascularization using cryopreserved iliac artery allografts for hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (3 patients), thrombosis (2 patients), aneurysm (1 patient), or stenosis (1 patient). Two patients developed severe complications, comprising one biliary leakage treated percutaneously, and one acute necrotizing pancreatitis causing death on postoperative day 29. After a median follow-up of 75 months (range, 1-269 mo), 2 patients had an uneventful long-term course, whereas 4 patients developed graft thrombosis after a median period of 120 days (range, 2-488 d). Among the 4 patients who developed graft thrombosis, 1 patient developed ischemic cholangitis, 1 developed acute ischemic hepatic necrosis and was retransplanted, and 2 patients did not develop any further complications.

Despite a high rate of allograft thrombosis, rescue arterial revascularization using cryopreserved iliac artery allografts after liver transplant is an effective and readily available approach, with a limited risk of infection and satisfactory long-term graft and patient survival.