Enlarging vascular stents after pediatric liver transplantation.

Background: Endovascular intervention with stent placement to treat portal vein (PV) and hepatic vein (HV) stenosis after pediatric liver transplantation (LT) is still controversial in small children owing to the potential risk of functional stenosis after growth. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stent placement in this population.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2016, 6 children (all <3 years) received HV (n = 2) and PV (n = 4) stents placement among 46 pediatric LT patients at our institution. The clinical outcome and patency rate were followed. Morphologic changes of stents were assessed from plain films by a new index: the stent diameter ratio (SDR).

Results: The median age of the patients at LT was 8.9 months. The patency rate was 100% without functional stenosis during a median follow-up period of 65.5 months. The "stent growth" phenomenon was demonstrated by SDR with significant resolution of hourglass deformity 2 years after stent placement (p for trend <.001).

Conclusion: Vascular stent placement is a safe and effective method for the management of PV and HV stenosis following pediatric LT because these stents will enlarge as children grow.

Type Of Study: Case Series with no Comparison Group LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.