Emergency liver transplantation after umbilical hernia repair: a case report

Transplant Proc. 2009 Dec;41(10):4428-30. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2009.08.068.

Abstract

We report a rare case of acute liver failure due to embolization of the liver after an umbilical hernia repair in a patient with Child B liver cirrhosis and status posttransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS). This patient initially presented with a symptomatic umbilical hernia. His umbilical vein was open (Cruveilhier-Baumgarten syndrome). After hernia repair the patient developed thrombosis of the umbilical vein with consequent partial embolization to, and acute failure of, the liver. The patient underwent successful emergency liver transplantation. This disease needs close collaboration among surgeons, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, radiologists, nutritionists, and transplant teams to establish an effective treatment plan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Emergencies
  • Hernia, Umbilical / complications
  • Hernia, Umbilical / surgery*
  • Humans
  • International Normalized Ratio
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / surgery*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Male
  • Mesenteric Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic
  • Postoperative Complications / surgery
  • Prothrombin Time
  • Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Treatment Refusal

Substances

  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase