Hepatic Venous and Inferior Vena Cava Morphology No Longer a Barrier to Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Budd-Chiari Syndrome: Surgical Techniques and Outcomes

Liver Transplantation for Budd-Chiari Syndrome From Myeloproliferative Neoplasms - Management and Long-Term Results

Myeloproliferative neoplasms can cause primary Budd-Chiari-Syndrome with acute or chronic liver failure necessitating liver transplantation. However, preventing the recurrence remains challenging and the need for post-transplant anticoagulant and cytoreductive treatment is not sufficiently clear. We analyzed the treatment regimens for all patients who presented to our department with PBCS from MPN between 2004 and 2021. Eight patients underwent liver transplantation - 6 of them due to an acute liver failure. Post-transplant, all patients received anticoagulant and 7 patients cytoreductive medication. The mean survival after transplantation was 13.25 years. Liver transplantation shows favorable long-term outcome when combined with post-transplant anticoagulant and cytoreductive treatment.

Venous outflow reconstruction in living-donor liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome involving vena cava

Ironically, the hepatic vena cava is mostly involved in Budd-Chiari syndrome in the Asia-Pacific region, whereas living-donor liver transplantation is predominant, which cannot replace the hepatic cava. Hata and colleagues introduced a new surgical technique for venous reconstruction in living-donor liver transplantation, providing a novel solution to this longstanding dilemma.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

INTRODUCTION

There are unique technical and management challenges associated with living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS). The outcomes of LDLT for BCS in comparison to other indications remain unclear and warrant elucidation.

METHODS

Data of 24 BCS patients who underwent LDLT between January 2012 and June 2019 were analyzed. There were 20 adults and 4 children. The early and long-term outcomes of adult LDLT BCS patients were compared to a control group of LDLT patients for other indications and matched using propensity scoring methodology.

RESULTS

Primary BCS was observed in 18 (90%) patients. Caval replacement was performed in 7 (35%) patients. Early and late hepatic venous outflow tract (HVOT) complications were seen in 1 (5%) and 3 (15%) patients. Preoperative acute kidney injury was identified as a risk factor for mortality in the BCS cohort (p = 0.013). On comparison, BCS recipients were younger with fewer comorbidities, more large volume ascites and higher rates of PVT. They also had longer cold ischemia time, increased blood loss and transfusion requirements, increased hospital stay, and higher late outflow complications. The 1-year and 3-year survivals were similar to non-BCS cohort (84.2% vs. 94% and 71.3% vs. 91.9%, respectively, log rank test p = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

LDLT is a good option for symptomatic BCS who have failed non-transplant interventions. The clinical and risk factor profile of BCS recipients is distinct from non-BCS recipients. By following an algorithmic management protocol, we show on propensity-score matched analysis that outcomes of LDLT for BCS are similar to non-BCS indications.

Liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome: A challenging but handable procedure

BACKROUND

Establishing venous outflow in liver transplantation for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome is crucial and requires various surgical techniques. The outcomes of these patients exibits distinct problems including vasculary thrombosis and biliary complications.

METHODS

In this single center study, the outcomes and surgical features of 33 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who were carried out liver translantation (27 patients from living donor). Another group was formed among patients underwent liver transplantation due to other etiologies and the outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

The most-seen type was the classical type of Budd-Chiari syndrome (25, 75.8%). For twenty-six patients inherited or acquired prothrombotic disorders were identified (78.2%) in Budd-Chiari group. Average follow-up was 29.7 ± 15.5 months. We have observed no recurrence of disease in our BCS patients. When the two groups was compared in terms of thrombotic complications, there was a significantly increased risk in BCS group (p = 0.014). Our 1 and 3-year survival rates for the BCS group were 81.8% and 78.8%, respectively. In the control group, 1 and 3-year survival rates were 93.3% and 88.9%, respectively. Log-rank test analyses showed no statistically significant results.

CONCLUSION

Liver transplantation with individual surgical and postoperative treatment strategy for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome provides comparable outcomes.

Living donor liver transplantation for Budd‒Chiari syndrome with right posterior segment graft and patch plasty using the superficial femoral vein: a case report

Background

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients with Budd‒Chiari syndrome (BCS), there are several concerns about reconstruction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and hepatic veins. Herein, we report the case of a patient with BCS who underwent LDLT with right posterior segment graft (RPSG) and patch plasty for reconstruction of the hepatic venous outflow, using the patient’s own superficial femoral vein (SFV).

Case presentation

A 19-year-old man, who was diagnosed with primary BCS, underwent LDLT. His main hepatic veins were totally obstructed, and membranous stenosis was seen in the IVC. The LDLT donor was his mother; however, liver volumetric analysis showed that only her RPSG was appropriate. In the recipient surgery, 16 cm of the left SFV was harvested and was cut longitudinally and opened. The right hepatic vein (RHV) of the RPSG was anastomosed to the sidewall of the SFV graft. After explantation of native diseased liver was completed, the stenotic and thickened wall of the IVC was widely resected, and a large anastomotic orifice was created. Patch cavoplasty was performed with the RHV‒SFV graft patch. After portal reperfusion started, hepatic venous outflow was satisfactory, and there was no venous graft congestion. Both his postoperative course and his long-term course after discharge were uneventful.

Conclusions

In LDLT for BCS patients, ingenuity is required for the reconstruction of venous outflow. The SFV patch can be safely harvested from liver transplant recipients and is suitable for venous reconstruction. In addition, RPSG is an alternative type of liver graft for LDLT if a conventional right- or left-lobe graft cannot be used.

Living-donor liver transplantation in Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena cava complete thrombosis: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a challenging indication for liver transplantation (LT) due to a combination of massive liver, increased bleeding, retroperitoneal fibrosis and frequently presents with stenosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Occasionally, it may be totally thrombosed, increasing the complexity of the procedure, as it should also be resected. The challenge is even greater when performing living-donor LT as the graft does not contain the retrohepatic IVC; thus, it may be necessary to reconstruct it.

CASE SUMMARY

A 35-year-old male patient with liver cirrhosis due to BCS and hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria underwent living-donor LT with IVC reconstruction. It was necessary to remove the IVC as its retrohepatic portion was completely thrombosed, up to almost the right atrium. A right-lobe graft was retrieved from his sister, with outflow reconstruction including the right hepatic vein and the branches of segment V and VIII to the middle hepatic vein. Owing to massive subcutaneous collaterals in the abdominal wall, venovenous bypass was implemented before incising the skin. The right atrium was reached via a transdiaphragramatic approach. Hepatectomy was performed en bloc with the retrohepatic vena cava. It was reconstructed with an infra-hepatic vena cava graft obtained from a deceased donor. The patient remains well on outpatient clinic follow-up 25 mo after the procedure, under an anticoagulation protocol with warfarin.

CONCLUSION

Living-donor LT in BCS with IVC thrombosis is feasible using a meticulous surgical technique and tailored strategies.

Usability of Inferior Vena Cava Interposition Graft During Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Is This Approach Always Necessary?

PURPOSE

To share the outcome of caval reconstruction technique in patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with inferior vena cava (IVC) interposition grafting.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and December 2018, an artificial or homologous interposition vascular graft was used for the continuity of resected native (IVC) due to various reasons in 29 of 1740 patients who underwent LDLT at our institute. Demographic, clinical, and radiological data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixteen female and 13 male patients ranging 6-67 years of age were included. Right, left, and left lobe lateral segments were used in 22, 5, and 2 patients, respectively. The three leading LDLT indications were primary or idiopathic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) (n = 12), alveolar echinococcosis (n = 7), and secondary BCS (n = 5). The three leading indications for IVC interposition grafting were thrombosis, dense fibrosis, and IVC invasion caused by tumor or echinococcosis. Homologous IVC graft was used in 17, homologous aortic graft in 7, and Dacron graft in 5 patients. Throughout the follow-up period, ascites ± pleural effusion and elevated liver enzymes were detected in 12 and 4 patients, respectively. Stenosis and/or thrombosis requiring one or more procedures such as 1-6 sessions balloon angioplasty, stent, and thrombus aspiration were observed in half of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Retrohepatic IVC damages are not a contraindication for LDLT. The presence or absence of venous collateral circulation is an important indicator of the need for IVC interposition graft use.

Hepatic Venous Outflow Reconstruction Directly Into the Right Atrium

OBJECTIVES

Living-donor liver transplant for BuddChiari syndrome is particularly challenging because of the need for venous outflow reconstruction as grafts from living donors lack vena cava. In addition, recipient vena cava may be thrombotic and fibrotic to such an extent that it would not allow graft venous outflow reconstruction. Under these circumstances, the right atrium provides an easily accessible alternative for venous outflow reconstruction, omitting the need for vena cava replacement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 3 patients who were treated using this technique were collected and evaluated with regard to surgical technique and outcomes.

RESULTS

All patients were alive without vascular complications after a mean follow-up of 67 months. The applied surgicaltechnique was similar except with regard to vena cava preservation.

CONCLUSIONS

During the natural course of the disease, venous collaterals form as chronic thrombosis extends into the vena cava. The vena cava can be safely resected in these patients to facilitate hepatectomy through dense adhesions, which is another common clinical problem in this disease. Consequently, venous outflow reconstruction to the right atrium creates the feasible opportunity of draining the graftliver without having to replace the vena cava.

Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Budd-Chiari Syndrome: Case Series

BACKGROUND

Venous reconstruction in living-donor liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) has challenges because the grafts from living donors lack vena cava, and hepatic venous anastomosis must be performed on an already-thrombosed and/or stenosed inferior vena cava. Several techniques are described to overcome this problem, and we represent our experience with 22 patients.

METHODS

Medical recordings of 22 patients were retrospectively collected, and disease-specific data as well as recordings about surgical technique were analyzed.

RESULTS

Creation of a wide, triangular de novo orifice was the main method used for venous drainage, which was used in 19 patients. The remaining 3 patients had totally thrombosed vena cava; thus, direct anastomosis to the supra-hepatic portion of the vena cava was used in 2 patients and an anastomosis to the right atrium was used in 1 patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Venous reconstruction in BCS can be achieved without the use of patch-plasty, and the inferior vena cava can be safely resected in selected patients. Living-donor liver transplantation is a feasible option for the treatment of BCS, considering the scarcity of cavaderic donors.

Living donor liver transplantation for adult Budd Chiari syndrome - Resection without replacement of retrohepatic IVC: A case report

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Budd-Chiari syndrome is characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction.

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Liver transplantation is a definitive treatment of BCS, indicated in failure of other treatment modalities or end stage liver diseases.

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The Budd-Chiari syndrome patients with IVC obstruction can receive liver transplantation with IVC removal and without IVC replacement.

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Living donor liver transplant with refined techniques can be performed safety with stable hemodynamics peri-and post-liver transplantation.

Introduction

Suprahepatic caval resection and replacement of inferior vena cava (IVC) is standard procedure in deceased donor liver transplantation for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). However, replacement of IVC in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is difficult. We report a case of BCS successfully treated by LDLT without replacement of IVC.

Presentation of case

A 52-years-old female with a primary BCS due to IVC thrombosis. A vena cava (VC) stent placed after angioplasty without improvement of the hepatic, portal venous flow and liver functions, Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was considered and the patient had a rapid deterioration and increased ascites. The patient was scheduled for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Her Child-Paugh and MELD scores were 11, 18, respectively at time of transplantation. Left lobe was obtained from her son. Preservation of the native suprarenal IVC was impossible due to massive fibrosis and thrombosed. The suprahepatic IVC was also fibrotic and unsuitable for anastomosis with hepatic vein. The retrohepatic IVC resected include suprahepatic IVC together with the liver. The supradiaphragmatic IVC was reached and encircled through opening the diaphragm around the IVC and a vascular clamp applied on the right atrium with subsequent anastomosis with hepatic vein of the graft. The hemodynamic stability of the patient was maintained throughout the operation without IVC replacement due to developed collateral vessels.

Conclusion

Patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome with obstructive IVC are successfully treated with living donor liver transplantation without replacement of IVC.