TREATMENT OF UNCONTROLLED VARICEAL HEMORR HAGE BY INTRAHEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC STENT-SHUNT AND IMMEDIATE LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

A 41-year-old patient with liver cirrhosis due to autoimmune hepatitis received an emergency transjugular portosystemic stent shunt for unco ntrolled acute variceal hemorrhage. Because of markedly impaired liver function, liver transplantation was considered to be indicated and wa s performed on the following day. Intraoperatively, one of the intrahe patic metal stents migrated unnoticed into the pulmonary artery. The p ostoperative course was uncomplicated and the displaced stent was left in situ. Eighteen months after the transplantation the patient is wel l with normal liver function and no pulmonary problems.