Treatment of post-liver transplant hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with balloon angioplasty after failed stent graft placement

SummaryHepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication following liver transplantation but can lead to life threatening hemorrhage if not treated effectively and in a timely manner. We describe a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm that occurred after liver transplantation in a 53-year-old woman. The pseudoaneurysm was initially treated by implantation of a balloon-expandable covered stent-graft, but an endoleak was observed 6 days later. The endoleak was successfully resolved by further balloon angioplasty, which expanded the cylindrical stent to a conical stent, matching the anatomy of the anastomotic hepatic artery. Follow-up ultrasound examinations demonstrated patent hepatic arteries, with no evidence of pseudoaneurysm. Balloon-expandable covered stent-graft may be utilized to treat hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm following liver transplantation, due to the remodeling ability of stent-grafts, enabling them to fit the diseased vessels.