BACKGROUND: Although exceedingly rare, kinking of suprahepatic vena cava after liver transplantation can lead to both graft failure and patient demise. The features of a case of suprahepatic vena caval kinking are herein reported along with the description of an original solution adopted to rescue the graft.METHODS: In order to correct vascular kinking, two surgical gloves filled with sterile saline solution were placed in appropriate positions in the subdiaphragmatic space.RESULTS: Caval obstruction was immediately relieved. Over a period of 7 days, gloves were progressively deflated and eventually removed without need for laparotomy. Vena caval kinking did not recur.CONCLUSIONS: The "water-glove balloon system" described in this report seems to be an efficient and inexpensive method to rescue liver grafts in the presence of kinking or torsion of the suprahepatic vena cava. Surgeons dedicated to the transplantation of the liver should therefore retain this option in their cultural background.
Adult Budd-Chiari Syndrome