P-L17 Post-liver transplant inferior vena cava stenosis in a large volume UK centre

Background Inferior vena cava stenosis (IVCS) is a rare complication of liver transplantation with a reported incidence rate of 3%. Limited clinical consensus exists on the management of IVCS. We report the management and outcomes of patients with IVCS at our transplant centre. Methods Relevant data were collected from adult patients who underwent liver transplantation at our centre between October 2014 and August 2020. These included demographics, investigation and management details with regards to IVCS. Values presented as % of total and median with interquartile range (IQR). Results A total of 636 liver transplants were performed during the study period, of which 48 (7.6%) patients were investigated for possible IVCS. Of those, 14 (2.2% of total) were found to have IVCS, 85.7% (n = 12) were female. Only 2/14 were re-transplants and pre-transplant portal vein thrombus was present in 3 cases (21.4%). 10 livers (71.4%) were DBD donors. Normothermic machine perfusion was used in 4/14 patients. All 14 recipients found to have IVCS had had an implantation using a modified piggyback cavocavostomy technique. The IVCS was identified at a median of 25.5 days (19.7-30.8 days) following transplantation within the suprahepatic IVC in 92.9% (n = 13). Hemi-azygos collateralisation was seen in 4 cases (28.6%). 8 of the 14 recipients underwent intervention for IVCS, 6 patients were managed with balloon venoplasty, 1 patient required an IVC stent and 1 was managed surgically. Six of the recipients with IVCS died, 4 of whom had an intervention for their stenosis and 3 of these were within 90 days of their transplant. Pressures measured at the anastomotic stricture were higher in those who succumbed (median of 21 Vs 12.5 mmHg; p=.017). Conclusions At our centre, cava-replacement technique was not associated with IVCS. Patients with more significant strictures (as evidenced by higher pressures at the anastomotic stenosis) may have an increased mortality risk.

Superior vena cava stenosis presenting with bendopnea

Bendopnea, or dyspnoea with bending forward, is a recently described symptom of heart failure that is associated with elevated ventricular filling pressures. Here, we describe a case of superior vena cava (SVC) stenosis that presented with bendopnea and resolved with SVC recanalisation. We suggest that SVC stenosis be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who experience bendopnea.

Strategy of pacemaker and electrode replacement for superior vena cava stenosis

Cardiac implantable devices are commonly used for superior vena cava stenosis, but there have been few reports of electrode replacement in the stenosed superior vena cava. A 73-year-old man was diagnosed with second-degree type II atrioventricular block and a permanent dual-chamber, rate-modulated pacing pacemaker was implanted 10 years previously. Because of depletion of the pacemaker battery and an increase in the ventricular pacing threshold, replacement of the pacemaker and ventricular electrode was required. During the operation, we found that the patient had severe superior vena cava stenosis on angiography, and this caused obstruction when a common guidewire was used to pass through the superior vena cava. After attempting various methods, we successfully passed through the vascular stenosis with a super slide guidewire and a long sheath, and completed replacement of the pacemaker and ventricular electrode. We summarize the related literature of superior vena cava stenosis related to a cardiac implantable device, and discuss the replacement strategy of this complication and other treatment options.