Treatment of early hepatic venous outflow obstruction after living donor-related liver transplantation by the insertion of expandable metallic stent

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) is rare but serious complication after right lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Failure to identify this complication early can result in graft failure and even death. The early diagnosis and management of HVOO is very important. We report a case with this complication treated by endovascular stent placement in the early period after right lobe LDLT and review-related reports to explore the possible mechanism. A 43-year-old male with chronic liver disease underwent right lobe LDLT. On postoperative day 2, his liver function deteriorated. Hepatic venography showed an obstruction and thrombosis of mechanical heart valve with an element of torsion of the venous drainage proximal to the anastomosis of the right hepatic venous orifice and inferior vena cava. The obstruction was successfully treated by insertion of an expandable metallic stent. The result demonstrates that stent placement for obstruction is safe and effective.