Liver-only Transplantation in a Patient With Complex Congenital Heart Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Patients with liver failure due to or in addition to congenital heart disease (CHD) represent a growing population in need of organ transplantation. Traditionally, these patients received a combined heart and liver transplantation carrying a high risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS. We discuss a patient with complex cyanotic CHD and biliary atresia undergoing liver-only transplantation. Furthermore, a literature study was performed on combined congenital heart and liver disease in the setting of transplantation. RESULTS. We describe a unique case of a patient with severe CHD undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for biliary atresia. In the literature, congenital malformations affecting different organs seems not that infrequent. Liver-only transplantation has been described in mild CHD, although data in adult patients are scarce. In severe CHD, the liver usually suffers from congestion. The severity of liver disease and reversibility should be estimated to decide on combined heart-liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS. Our case and a review of the literature demonstrate that a patient-tailored approach with liver-only transplantation may be an appropriate alternative to combined heart and liver transplantation in selected cases.