RESOLUTION OF CIRRHOSIS-RELATED PULMONARY SHUNTING IN 2 CHILDREN WITHA TRANSPLANTED LIVER

We treated two children with hypoxemia caused by intrapulmonary shunti ng associated with cirrhosis secondary to extrahepatic biliary atresia . Following orthotopic liver transplantation, digital clubbing and int rapulmonary shunting were resolved, as demonstrated by normalization o f room air arterial blood gases, reduction in shunt fraction, and perf usion lung scanning with Tc-99m-labeled macroaggregates of albumin. We recommend that early liver transplantation be considered for young su bjects with a severe hepatopulmonary syndrome.