Liver Transplantation for the Abernathy Malformation

Abstract

To the Editor: Previously in the Journal, we reported on a 4-year-old boy with the hepatopulmonary syndrome, a condition characterized by intrapulmonary shunting due to dilatation of pulmonary vessels in the setting of liver disease or dysfunction.1 The Abernathy malformation, a congenital anomaly of the splanchnic vasculature in which portal venous blood is diverted into the inferior vena cava, was diagnosed. This is a follow-up report on the outcome. In the 2 years after presentation, worsening hypoxemia and exercise intolerance developed, with an oxygen saturation of 70% while the patient was receiving 6 liters of oxygen per minute by nasal . . .