Transcatheter coil occlusion of an intrahepatic arterioportal fistula in a transplanted liver.

The incidence of arterioportal fistulas (APFs) following percutaneous transhepatic procedures is quoted to be between 5 and 20%; the majority of them remain clinically asymptomatic and do not require any treatment. However, an APF large enough to cause a reversal of blood flow in the portal vein is rather uncommon especially in a transplanted liver where it may have potentially hazardous consequences. We report on a 21-year-old female patient who received a liver transplantation on account of a Budd-Chiari syndrome. Following a liver biopsy, a large APF developed in the right lobe of the graft. Despite the known risks associated with catheterization of graft vessels, a successful coil occlusion of the fistula could be carried out thus rendering surgery unnecessary.