Thrombectomy of portal vein thrombosis in living donor liver transplantation.

We describe a case of living donor liver transplantation where an intrahepatic portal vein embolism was detected by intraoperative ultrasonography after the completion of portal and arterial anastomoses. The recipient portal vein trunk was clamped and the ligature of the graft's right portal branch was released, thus maintaining the sole arterial supply. Backward flushing of the portal system was achieved, which removed the clot through the reopened right portal branch without the need for thrombectomy by Fogarty balloon catheter.