P2.41 The order of factors may alter the product: different surgical approaches to pediatric combined heart and liver transplantation (CHLT)
Saturday September 20, 2025 from 17:40 to 18:40
MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)
Presenter

Isabel González-Barba Neira, Spain

Trainee

Department of Pediatric Surgery

Vall d'Hebron University Hospital

Abstract

The order of factors may alter the product: different surgical approaches to pediatric combined heart and liver transplantation (CHLT)

Isabel González-Barba Neira1, José Andrés Molino1,2, Jesús Quintero3, Joaquín Fernández4, María Marget Mercadal-Hally3, Cristina Padrós3, Antonio Pamiès4, Ferrán Gran5, Nuria Montferrer7, Jaume Izquierdo6, Raúl Felipe Abella4, Ernest Hidalgo2.

1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; 2Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Transplants, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; 3Pediatric Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; 4Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery , Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; 5Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; 6Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; 7Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

Introduction: Combined heart and liver transplantation (CHLT) is a highly complex treatment option for pediatric patients with single ventricle physiology palliated with a Fontan procedure, which requires extensive surgical planning and multidisciplinary management. Our aim was to describe two different surgical approaches to CHLT. 
Methods: Description of differing surgical strategies employed during the CHLT of two failing Fontan patients (13 and 17-year-old) with bridging fibrosis on the Congestive Hepatic Fibrosis Scoring System. 
Results: In patient 1 both the heart and liver were transplanted under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with a liver cold ischemia time (CIT) of 200 minutes. The liver was implanted with caval replacement. After completing both transplants, CPB was converted to a closed extracorporeal circuit (CEC).
In patient 2, CPB was converted to CEC after completing cardiac implantation and successfully reverting anticoagulation. Meanwhile, the liver graft was treated with hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) during 282 minutes and was implanted with a 2-hour CIT and almost normal coagulation values using a piggy-back anastomosis. Patient 2 required less extracorporeal support, blood product transfusions and had a shorter ICU stay. 
Conclusion: Pediatric CHLT are a surgical challenge that require multidisciplinary involvement and can be performed following different surgical schemes.

References:

[1] Combined heart and liver transplantation


Lectures by Isabel González-Barba Neira

When Session Talk Title Room
Sun-21
07:00 - 07:50
Liver transplantation - expanding the donor pool The impact of prioritizing pediatric recipients on a national scale: Battling waitlist morbidity and encouraging the diversification of liver transplant indications MOA 3
Fri-19
10:00 - 11:00
Surgery - novel techniques and outcomes Monosegmental and hyperreduced split grafts to overcome large-for-size scenarios in pediatric liver transplants MOA 3
Thu-18
17:00 - 18:00
Liver/Intestine Posters - from P1.35 to P1.53 All roads lead to Rome: Aortohepatic conduits as an alternative source of arterial inflow in pediatric liver transplants MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)
Thu-18
17:00 - 18:00
Liver/Intestine Posters - from P1.35 to P1.53 A novel surgical graft salvaging procedure in liver transplant recipients with early-onset hepatic venous outflow obstruction MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)
Sat-20
17:40 - 18:40
Liver/Intestine Posters - from P2.35 to P2.56 The diversification of pediatric liver transplant indications: Single center experience with non-cirrhotic inborn errors of metabolism MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)
Sat-20
17:40 - 18:40
Liver/Intestine Posters - from P2.35 to P2.56 Finding the missing link: Vasospasm in pediatric liver transplant recipients with non-cirrhotic inborn errors of metabolism MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)
Sat-20
17:40 - 18:40
Liver/Intestine Posters - from P2.35 to P2.56 Better safe than sorry: Minimizing arterial complications in Alagille syndrome liver transplant recipients MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)
Sat-20
17:40 - 18:40
Liver/Intestine Posters - from P2.35 to P2.56 The order of factors may alter the product: different surgical approaches to pediatric combined heart and liver transplantation (CHLT) MOA 10 (Exhibit Area)

© 2025 IPTA 2025