Conservative treatment of suprahepatic pseudoaneurysm in a pediatric patient. / Manejo conservador de un pseudoaneurisma suprahepático en un paciente pediátrico.

INTRODUCTION: Suprahepatic and inferior vena cava (IVC) pseudoaneurysms are rare in children. Most cases in adults are treated surgically due to the high risk of rupture. CASE REPORT: Seven-year-old girl referred for a thoracic-abdominal trauma of unknown origin. Hemodynamically stable, with a hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dl. An emergency CT scan was performed, showing a pseudoaneurysm at the confluence of the IVC with the middle and left suprahepatic veins, with active bleeding contained by the hepatic capsule. Given the hemodynamic stability and surgical risk, conservative treatment was decided upon. CT-scan at 24 hours showed cessation of bleeding. A control CT-scan was performed one month, three months, one year, and one and a half years later, showing the lesion had disappeared. DISCUSSION: Conservative treatment of suprahepatic vein pseudoaneurysm/ICV is feasible in the case of hemodynamic stability provided that strict clinical and radiological surveillance is maintained.

INTRODUCCION: Los pseudoaneurismas suprahepáticos y de la vena cava inferior (VCI) son excepcionales en niños. La mayoría de casos en adultos se manejan quirúrgicamente debido al alto riesgo de rotura. CASO CLINICO: Niña de siete años remitida por traumatismo tóraco-abdominal no presenciado. Hemodinámicamente estable, con hemoglobina de 9,1 g/dL. Se realiza un TC urgente, objetivándose un pseudoaneurisma en la confluencia de la VCI con las suprahepáticas media e izquierda, con sangrado activo contenido por la cápsula hepática. Dada la estabilidad hemodinámica y el riesgo quirúrgico, se optó por un manejo conservador. En el TC a las veinticuatro horas se observó cese del sangrado. Se realizó un TC de control al mes, tres meses, un año y año y medio, con desaparición de la lesión. COMENTARIOS: El manejo conservador del pseudoaneurisma de las venas suprahepáticas/VCI es factible en caso de estabilidad hemodinámica siempre que se mantenga una vigilancia clínica y radiológica estrechas.

Portoumbilical anastomosis as a simple method of transient portosystemic shunt during liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: This article describes a new method of transient intraoperative portosystemic shunting, Splachnic edema after portal cross-clamping can be a dangerous complication during the anhepatic phase of the liver transplant operation. The current method seeks to avoid this problem, without the use of external venovenous bypass pump, by a temporary portocaval shunt, with retrohepatic cava preservation as first described experimentally in dogs by Fonkalsrud et al in 1966. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 227 liver transplant operations, we utilized a transient portosystemic shunt in 29 cases. The indication to perform a temporary shunt in all cases was the development of splachnic edema. In 3 instances, we performed a portoumbilical anastomosis using a prominent umbilical vein. The other 26 procedures employed the usual portocaval shunts. In these cases, splachnic congestion and onset of edema developed after cross-clamping of the round ligament and the portal vein, which resolved after the portoumbilical anastomosis. DISCUSSION: The flow in the shunt was in all cases greater than 1 L/min. The most important risk factor for the development of splachnic edema was the presence of a patent umbilical vein, which occurred in 34.5% of shunted patients. CONCLUSION: The use of a patent umbilical vein to perform a portoumbilical shunt was an effective, easy method to decompress the splachnic area, avoiding dangerous congestion and edema.

Renoportal anastomosis as a rescue technique in postoperative portal thrombosis in liver transplantation.

Renoportal anastomosis has been used as the primary portal revascularization technique in grade 4 portal thrombosis, but never after posttransplant portal thrombosis. A cirrhotic patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and partial portal thrombosis of two-thirds of the lumen was transplanted. The thrombus was removed and good portal flow obtained upon reperfusion (2.8 L/min). On the ninth postoperative day Doppler ultrasound revealed complete portal thrombosis extending from the splenomesenteric confluence. At emergency reoperation, we removed the newly formed thrombus. Portal vein branches were flushed with heparin and urokinase. After reconstruction of the anastomosis, we achieved a flow of 1.1 L/min. Rethrombosis occurred again on day 13. At reoperation, thrombus was removed again. However, this time portal flow was not recovered, due to hepatofugal flow associated with both the presence of collaterals and pancreatic edema. A left renoportal anastomosis was performed using an interposed iliac vein graft. A catheter was placed into the portal vein through a recanalization of the umbilical vein of the graft. After urokinase perfusion, portal inflow was 1.7 L/min. The postoperative course was satisfactory, with progressive normalization of liver tests and no further thrombosis. Persistent ascites improved with treatment. Angiography on day 41 showed good portal flow from the renal vein, with uniform distribution within the liver. A renoportal anastomosis can be useful for recovery of liver failure after posttransplant portal thrombosis, in the absence of portal flow.

T-tube Systematic Use in the Biliary Anastomosis: Comparison of Two Consecutive Series of Liver Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to check the frequency of biliary complications with the use of a T-tube. In 2012, throughout the year, it was carried out systematically in all liver transplantations regardless of the characteristics of the bile duct. Despite the long experience, biliary complications remain a common cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study we compared complications in 23 consecutive transplantation cases using T-tube biliary anastomosis during the year 2012 with 23 consecutive transplantation cases without T-tube during the year 2013. We evaluated postoperative complications and long-term outcomes (for 2 years to 3 years). RESULTS: Of the 23 patients with anastomosis with a T-tube, 2 patients (8.69%) had biliary stricture that required prosthesis by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, 1 of them (4.34%) was operated by incorrect placement of the T-tube, and in 4 patients (17.39%) bile leakage (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography prostheses in 3 cases and hepaticojejunostomy in 1). During follow-up at 3 years, only 2 patients had minimal bile duct dilatation without clinical relevance. In the patients who underwent transplantation without a T-tube, 18 (78.26%) had no complications, 3 (13.04%) showed stenosis (prosthesis placement), and 2 (8.69%) had bile leakage (hepaticojejunostomy and prosthesis). During follow-up at 2 years to 3 years, no patient had biliary dilatation or alteration of cholestatic parameters. In the comparative study of both groups we found no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: We have not seen an improvement in complications with the use of T-tube (69.56% vs. 78.23%) that encourage us to work systematically, although the small number of cases does not allow statistically significant conclusions.

Collateral Development in Thrombosis of the Hepatic Artery After Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to identify strictures or hepatic artery obstruction with posterior collateral transformation in our series of liver transplantation, treatment, and evolution. The thrombosis or severe hepatic artery stenosis sometimes presents a compensation mechanism, the collateral transformation of the artery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From April 2002 to December 2011 we collected 18 cases of collateral transformation. We analyzed data regarding the transplantation, diagnosis, treatment, clinical evolution, liver function, and Doppler-ultrasound. RESULTS: The main indication was alcoholic cirrhosis, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma - hepatitis C virus. The mean cold ischemia time was 292.2 minutes mean hot ischemia was 48.8. The anastomosis was performed on the gastroduodenal-splenic patch donor in 14 cases, the celiac trunk in 2 cases, and on grafts to the aorta in another 2. Doppler ultrasound showed 8 cases without complications, 8 with low flows, and 2 cases with alterations of the right hepatic artery. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography was performed in patients with impaired eco-Doppler and found 4 obstructions, 2 cases with kinking, 1 stenosis, and 3 normal cases. Three patients with low flows were re-operated and another re-transplanted. After diagnosis of collateral transformation, all were treated with antiplatelet agents. Two cases of angioplasty were associated. The collaterals were diagnosed 1 month to 44.8 months after transplantation. Five patients died. In the latest data, 10 patients do not have analytical alteration. The Doppler ultrasound shows 7 cases being normal and 6 with flow but low resistances. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, all patients with collateral transformation, except one who was transplanted, maintain good liver function with permeable vessels.

Cardiac and Pulmonary Ultrasound for Diagnosing TRALI.

Unexpected acute respiratory failure after anesthesia is a diagnostic challenge: residual neuromuscular blockade, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, laryngospasm, atelectasis, aspiration pneumonitis, and other more uncommon causes should be taken into account at diagnosis. Lung ultrasound and echocardiography are diagnostic tools that would provide the differential diagnosis. We report a suspected case of a transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) following administration of platelets. The usefulness of lung and cardiac ultrasound is discussed to facilitate the challenging diagnosis of the acute early postoperative respiratory failure.

Exclusions and deaths on the liver transplant waiting list.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristiscs, evolution and survival of patients included on the waiting list (WL) for liver transplantation (OLT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2002 and April 2009, 254 patients were included on WL to receive a first graft. Two hundred twenty-two patients (87.4%) were transplanted (group T); 7 (2.8%) died on the WL and 25 (9.8%) were excluded, namely, 13 (52%) due to improvement (group IE) and 12, for other reasons (group OE). Data collected prospectively were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Indications for transplant were cirrhosis (58%), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; 29%) and other etiologies (13%.) Average time on the WL was 60.3 +/- 62.9 days. Significant differences were not observed among the groups with respect to age, gender, or indication for OLT. The probability for exclusion due to progression and/or death was not significantly greater among patients included for HCC than for other reasons (P = .6). Survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years after WL inclusion were 81.2%, 73.3%, and 68.6%, respectively, in the whole series; and 85,4%, 76,9%, and 71.7% in group T. All group OE patients died before the first year, while group IE showed a survival of 100%, 91.7% and 91.7% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Survival was not different between groups T and IE (P = .03), but was lower in group OE than in groups T or IE (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The list mortality rate in our series was low, probably in relation to the short waiting time. The rate of exclusion from WL was 10%. Patient with hepatocellular carcinoma were not at an increased risk of WL exclusion. Patients excluded due to improvement displayed excellent survivals during the 5 years following exclusion.