Portal vein blood flow is very important for the normal function of transplanted liver. The author reviewed the management methods of different portal vein thrombosis classification in the liver transplantation (LT). The prognosis of LT in the patients with Yerdel 1–3 thrombosis is similar to that the patients without thrombosis. The portal vein reconstruction of the patients with Yerdel 4 thrombosis can be realized by varicose vein to portal anastomosis, renoportal anastomosis or cavoportal hemitransposition. When anastomosis is made at the proximal side of a spontaneous shunt between the portal and cava system, the blood shunted from portal system can be reintroduced into the donor liver, which is crucial for the management of Yerdel 4 thrombosis. The establishments of artificial shunt by distal splenic vein, mesenteric vein or “multiple to one” anastomosis are effective attempts to drain the blood from portal system to the donor liver. For more severe diffuse thrombosis of portal vein system, multivisceral transplantation, including liver and small intestine, should be considered. The cases of LT in the patients with complex portal vein thrombosis are increasing, however the prognosis remains to be determined after accumulation of the cases.
Objective To observe the recovery of recipients with complex portal vein thrombosis (CPVT) underwent “multiple to one” anastomosis and patency of portal vein blood flow during liver transplantation, and to ensure the reliability of this method. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of the recipients with CPVT underwent “multiple to one” anastomosis in the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were collected retrospectively. The “multiple to one” portal vein reconstruction was defined as the anastomosis of multiple vessels of portal venous system with the portal vein of graft, or the anastomosis that connected the blood vessel of portal venous system and the left renal vein/inferior vena cava to the portal vein of graft. ResultsA total of 5 patients were collected, including 1 patient with Yerdel grade 3 thrombosis and 4 patients with Yerdel grade 4 thrombosis. In 3 cases, the left renal vein, inferior vena cava, left renal vein were combined with the parabiliary vein, respectively, in the anastomosis to the donor portal vein. In another 2 cases, portal vein and left renal vein were combined with gastric coronary vein, respectively, in the anastomosis to the donor portal vein. During the follow-up period of 162–865 d, all patients had the stable portal vein blood flow without any symptom of portal hypertension. One patient had thrombosis at the anastomosis with varicose vein, while the anastomosis with left renal vein was unobstructed, which did not affect the donor liver function. ConclusionMultiple blood supply of portal vein is established after “multiple to one” anastomosis, and stability of portal vein blood flow can be maintained after a blood redistribution of portal venous system following liver transplantation.