Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration is feasible for prolonged portosystemic shunts after living donor liver transplantation

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) in patients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Five patients with gastric varices (GVx) and/or liver dysfunction who were treated with B-RTO from January 2001 to December 2007 were enrolled in this study (GVx, n = 2; liver dysfunction, n = 1; both, n = 2). The eradication rate of the GVx, portal vein hemodynamics and improvement of liver function were evaluated. B-RTO was performed successfully, and the GVx disappeared or decreased markedly in all patients. Recurrence of GVx was not observed during the follow-up. Significantly increased portal vein inflow and improved liver function were observed in all patients. B-RTO may be an effective treatment for patients after LDLT to prevent bleeding from GVx or to modulate portal vein inflow that is reduced by prolonged large portosystemic shunts.