Huge extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm as a late complication of liver transplantation

Abstract

A 60-year-old male underwent orthotopic liver transplantation because of hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis. After 12 d, the patient underwent re-transplantation due to primary graft non function. One year later the patient developed a thrombosis of the main portal vein needing a surgical revision. After 11 years the patient was operated on because of a clinical picture of intestinal occlusion. As an incidental finding, a large aneurysm of the main portal vein was diagnosed. The incidence of intra- and extrahepatic Portal vein aneurysms (PVAs) is not clear. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of intrahepatic PVA in a liver transplant has been reported in the literature. In addition, we have found no documented cases of extrahepatic PVAs in liver transplanted patients. © 2010 Baishideng.