Published online Sep 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i34.12359
Revised: April 2, 2014
Accepted: April 21, 2014
Published online: September 14, 2014
Liver transplantations were performed on two patients with hepatic failure caused by liver cirrhosis. Hard obsolete thrombi and portal venous sclerosis were observed in the major portal veins of both patients. The arteria colica media of one recipient and the portal vein of the donor were anastomosed end-to-end. The hepatic artery of the first donor was anastomosed end-to end with the gastroduodenal artery of the first recipient; meanwhile, the portal vein of the second donor was simultaneously anastomosed end- to-end with the common hepatic artery of the second recipient. The blood flow of the portal vein, the perfusion of the donor liver and liver function were satisfactory after surgery. Portal vein arterialization might be an effective treatment for patients whose portal vein reconstruction was difficult.
Core tip: Portal vein arterializations of patients with portal vein reconstruction difficulties (e.g., extensive portal thrombosis, portal venous cavernous transformation and decreased portal vein perfusion) suggest that this technique is an effective treatment for liver transplantation patients; however, we should also pay close attention to preventing postoperative complications.