Organ transplantation continues to grow in demand in the pediatric population. The
liver is the second most common organ that is transplanted in the pediatric population,
but it results in the greatest number of interventional procedures. Transplant continues
to be the preferred treatment for end-stage liver failure in children and has been
shown to prolong life. There are several significant differences in liver transplantation
between adults and children. They include different indications and diseases leading
to transplant, the smaller body size of children, and differences in the surgical
techniques used to implant the liver. These differences have led to a set of complications
that is unique to or is more frequently seen in the transplanted child. The complications
require interventional solutions tailored to the special needs of children. This paper
will examine the complications that are encountered and the technical challenges that
the interventionalist must address to successfully treat this subgroup of children.
The purpose of this paper is to present the techniques and “pearls” that we have found
to be helpful in treating this group of patients that in many ways is the most challenging
in all of pediatric intervention.
Pediatric transplant - transplant complications - interventional radiology - interventional
technique - liver transplant
