Introduction: Hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) after liver transplantation is a graft-threatening condition. HVOO that does not improve after balloon angioplasty should be treated with a stent. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of stents in hepatic vein stenosis that develops after liver transplantation.
Method: Between August 2011 and January 2024, 11 patients who had liver transplantation and had stenosis in the hepatic vein and had stent placement were included in the study retrospectively. Demographic data of the patients, number of stents, procedure success, and complication rate were evaluated.
Results: 11 patients were enrolled in this study (63.6% females and 36.4% males; mean age: 31 years; range: 1–62 years). When examining donor types, among the 11 patients, 2 had deceased donors, while 9 underwent living liver transplantation. Among these 9 patients who underwent living liver transplantation, 5 received a right lobe graft and 4 received a left lobe graft. A total of 14 stents were placed, a single stent in eight patients and two stents in three patients. The median days of interval between transplantation and stent placement was 8 days. The median follow-up period was 427 days. There were no major complications. Technical success was 100%.
Conclusion: Hepatic vein stenting is a safe and effective treatment method for patients who develop HVOO after liver transplantation.