Percutaneous Treatment of Portal Venous Stenosis in Children and Adolescents with Segmental Hepatic Transplants: Long-term Results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the percutaneous treatment of portal venous stenoses in children and adolescents with reduced-size hepatic transplants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the past 5 years, percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty was attempted in 25 children and adolescents with anastomotic portal venous stenoses that occurred after reduced-size hepatic transplantation. All procedures were performed with direct puncture of the intrahepatic portal vein and with subsequent balloon dilation. Intravascular stents were deployed in patients with suboptimal results after dilation or with recurrent stenoses. RESULTS: Percutaneous venoplasty was technically successful in 19 of 25 patients. In the remaining six patients, portal venous occlusion precluded access to the extrahepatic portal vein. Intravascular stents were deployed in 12 patients for “elastic” (n = 5) or recurrent (n = 7) stenoses. Seven patients who underwent successful venoplasty without stent placement have require...