Safety and Effectiveness of Early Primary Stent Placement for Hepatic Artery Stenosis in Liver Transplant Recipients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of early primary stent placement (within 30 days of liver transplantation) for hepatic artery stenosis (HAS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent liver transplantation between February 2001 and February 2024 were evaluated for HAS. Patients who underwent primary stent placement were selected and stratified based on the time from anastomosis to intervention. Early intervention was defined as primary stent placement within 30 days of surgical anastomosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for primary patency.

RESULTS: HAS occurred in 83 of 779 (11%) patients (median age, 55 years; interquartile range, 48-63 years; 27 [48%] women), with 56 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Stent placement was performed within 0-6 days of the anastomosis in 11 (20%), 7-14 days in 11 (20%), 15-30 days in 7 (12%), 31-70 days in 9 (16%), and >70 days in 18 (32%) patients. Technical success was 100%. Primary patency rates were 89%, 87%, and 87% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Primary assisted patency rates were 100% at 1, 3, and 5 years. Early interventions at 0-6 days, 7-14 days, and 15-30 days showed primary patency rates of 100%, 90%, and 86%, respectively, at 1 year (P = .58). There was no difference in primary patency between the early (<30 days) and late (>30 days) cohorts (P = .88). There was 1 Grade 4 adverse event. There were no cases of anastomotic rupture, hepatic artery dissection, or graft failure.

CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic artery stent placement within 30 days of liver transplantation is safe and technically successful with excellent long-term primary patency.