CAVOATRIAL SHUNT - A GRAFT SALVAGE PROCEDURE FOR SUPRAHEPATIC CAVAL ANASTOMOSIS OBSTRUCTION AFTER LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

A liver transplant recipient developed the Budd-Chiari syndrome becaus e of an obstruction of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava anastomosis . Percutaneous balloon dilatation angioplasty was not feasible. On exp loration, dense retrohepatic fibrotic reaction was observed. The patie nt underwent successful retrohepatic cavoatrial shunt placement by mea ns of a 16-mm, ring-enforced polytetrafluoroethylene graft. We conclud e that this shunt should be considered an additional graft salvage pro cedure for this complication. Copyright (C) 1998 by the American Assoc iation for the Study of Liver Diseases.