Hepatic Artery Thrombosis after Liver Transplantation: Experience of Single Center

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is a feared complication in the postoperative period of liver transplantation. It is one of the most serious vascular complications in the postoperative period of liver transplantation (LT) and is associated with a significant increasing in morbidity, graft loss and mortality. Methods: This study was retrospectively on period of November 2009 to December 2011, on the Gastroenterology Department of Sao Paulo University School of Medicine. Results: In this period of the analysis we obtained 18 cases of hepatic artery thrombosis that correspond to 7, 4%, of a total of 243 liver transplantation in this period. Seven cases before 15 days (early arterial thrombosis) and eleven cases of late arterial thrombosis. In the early group, 4 of 7 cases were women and 3 were men. The MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) average was 28.14. The survival rate of retransplantation of this group was 86% in this period. On the other hand, in the late group, among the 11 cases (5 women and 6 men), six were transplanted, two died and three cases are still waiting transplantation. Conclusion: Our cases are in agreement with the literature. Early indication of retransplantation has better results.