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Vida visited the Kaunas clinics for the first time a year ago. “One day I noticed yellow eyes, dark urine and a strange itchy skin. At first I did not pay attention to these symptoms, but the further away, the more they bothered me, I decided to visit the doctors, “said the woman.
The patient was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called primary biliary collagitis and cirrhosis. According to Kaunas Clinics Gastroenterology Clinic, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology doc. Irena Valantienė, more than 50 percent. patients do not experience any symptoms in the early stages of primary biliary collagitis, and sometimes symptoms may appear only after 5 or even 10 years.
“If treatment for this insidious and rare disease is not started in time, cirrhosis of the liver occurs,” says the head of the department. “Because the patient was diagnosed with advanced liver cirrhosis, it was decided to undergo a liver transplant.”
Although the Vidai donor liver had to wait only three months. During this period, he felt extremely bad. “I was always fast and strong, but the disease took away my strength, there were tortuous muscle spasms, I couldn’t even lift the keys that fell to the ground,” she recalls. “I was delighted to learn that a proper liver had developed, and since the transplant was performed on my birthday, it was my greatest gift.”
Doc I. Valantienė notes that the transplant went smoothly and the patient’s well-being improved rapidly, but when she came in for repeated examinations, she complained of an increase in abdominal volume.
“The examination results showed that she had fluid in her abdomen, so the patient underwent a CT scan. Later, it was noticed that a clot had formed in the vein at the door of the liver, preventing it from the blood flows to the liver ”, explains the associate professor.
“The main function of the liver is to cleanse the blood coming from the intestine and return the purified blood to the general blood circulation of the body,” says radiologist at Kaunas Radiology Clinic, radiologist dr. Andrius Pranculis. “Blood from the intestine and spleen enters the portal vein through the spleen ligament and veins, and from it to the liver, which form a single formation, but the clot in the patient’s blood vessels separates one vein from another and prevents blood from circulating properly. “
When a clot was found in Vidos’ liver veins, it was decided to perform a mechanical thrombectomy, which has not been performed in patients after organ transplantation. “After the patient percutaneously pierced (too small an incision in the skin) the portal vein, it became clear that the problem was much more complicated: a complete joint had formed, a hard fibrous blockage between the portal vein and the vein of the ligament.
Since this hardened clot could not be removed in any way by any available means, a unique technique was used: by puncturing the jugular vein of the portal vein, they were connected with a special stent. In this way, the blood circulation of the damaged liver is restored and the clots formed in the blood vessels are eliminated, ”says Dr. A. Pranculis.
The three-hour procedure went smoothly and the patient is feeling fine at this point. “The woman’s liver function was not affected and the accumulated fluid, which is one of the main symptoms of hepatic portal vein thrombosis after transplantation, disappeared,” said the radiologist.
Vida is happy that the professional work of the Kaunas clinic doctors helped her regain strength. “I felt good right after the transplant, and I only feel even better after this procedure,” he smiles. – I would like to thank the surgeon Albertas Daukša, doctor at the Kaunas Surgery Clinic, prof. Žilvinas Dambrauskas, dr. A. Pranculis, doc. I. Valantienė, the nurses and the entire team of doctors who treated me. “
Doc. I. Valantienė adds that liver transplants are one of the most complicated procedures, requiring special vigilance and insight from doctors to monitor the condition of patients. “Each successful patient story allows us all to enjoy the results of the professional work of doctors and nurses and to innovate in the field of transplantology,” says the associate professor.
Liver transplants have been performed in the Kaunas clinics for more than 20 years and remain one of the priority areas of the hospital’s activities. Over the decades, the field of transplantology has evolved and improved, introducing the most modern diagnostic and treatment methods.
