Renoportal anastomosis in living donor liver transplantation with prior proximal splenorenal shunt

Abstract

For transplant surgeons, end-stage liver disease with portal venous thrombosis and a previous splenorenal shunt (SRS) is a significant challenge during liver transplantation. Thrombosis of the portal vein can be corrected by surgical interventions, such as portal venous thrombectomy or surgical removal of the thrombosed portal vein. Even also placement of a graft between the mesenteric vein and the graft portal vein can be performed. If these maneuvers fail, a renoportal anastomosis (RPA) can be performed to achieve adequate graft inflow. A 51-year-old male patient who had a history of proximal SRS and splenectomy underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to cryptogenic cirrhosis. LDLT was performed with RPA using a cadaveric iliac vein graft. The early postoperative course of the patient was completely uneventful and he was discharged 20 d after transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first patient to receive LDLT with RPA after surgical proximal SRS and splenectomy.

Keywords: Liver transplantation; Portal vein thrombosis; Renoportal anastomosis; Proximal splenorenal shunt

Core tip: Renoportal anastomosis is such a feasible option during liver transplantation especially for patients having portal vein thrombosis. This case has a history of surgical proximal splenorenal shunting and splenectomy before liver transplantation which is a rare condition that makes surgery more complex and difficult. We reported how we managed our patient.