Side-to-side cavo-cavostomy: a useful aid in "complicated" piggy-back liver transplantation

Abstract

Piggy-back liver transplantation is a useful technical variant of orthotopic liver transplantation. Its success can, however, be compromised by severe stenosis or obstruction of the recipient's inferior vena cava at the level of the anastomosis. A technique is described - side-to-side cavocavostomy- to resolve this difficult intraoperative situation.