Small-for-size syndrome after living donor liver transplantation: Successful treatment with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Abstract

Small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) is a serious complication after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) that can disrupt liver regeneration and result in hepatic dysfunction. Until now, the treatment options for SFSS after LDLT have been very limited. Here we describe a patient with SFSS after LDLT who was successfully treated with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). A 56-year-old man who had undergone adult-to-adult LDLT because of decompensated liver cirrhosis started displaying signs of acute jaundice and ascites within 72 hours of the operation. The patient was diagnosed with SFSS, and because he had already undergone splenectomy before the transplant, partial splenic embolization was not feasible. Consequently, the TIPS procedure was chosen in an attempt to reduce portal hyperperfusion. After the procedure, the patient's symptoms were gradually ameliorated and were eventually resolved. In conclusion, when partial splenic embolization is not feasible, TIPS placement may be a feasible option for the treatment of SFSS after LDLT. © 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.