Liver transplant in a four-month-old child with biliary atresia, unilateral pulmonary agenesis, and diaphragmatic hernia: first case report

Pediatr Transplant. 2006 Jun;10(4):513-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2006.00502.x.

Abstract

Bilateral pulmonary agenesis (PA) is a rare embryological defect incompatible with life. Unilateral PA has a wide range of clinical presentations: its prognosis depends on the presence and severity of other associated anomalies. Fetal biliary atresia has been associated with a number of congenital anomalies, but the etiology is still not understood. An unusual case of a child with right PA, right diaphragmatic hernia, and delayed diagnosed biliary atresia leading to liver failure is presented herein. At the age of 4 months the patient was referred to the Transplant Department at Children Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston with cholestasis and failure to thrive. With a rapidly progressive liver insufficiency, this child was evaluated for liver transplantation. In the absence of any respiratory symptom, the patient received a deceased donor size-matched left lateral segment liver transplant, which covered the diaphragmatic defect, with no further repair required. Twenty-seven months post-transplant, the patient has good graft function, a normal Z-score and is thriving. In spite of the increased physiological and surgical challenges (absence of right lung tissue, hemi-diaphragm, and ectopic position of the liver in the right chest), liver transplantation was performed with positive outcome in this high-risk child. Whether PA, may have developmentally contributed to expression of biliary atresia will need further investigation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biliary Atresia / complications*
  • Biliary Atresia / surgery*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Survival
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic / diagnosis
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic / diagnostic imaging
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic / surgery
  • Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Lung / abnormalities*
  • Radiography
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome