Hepatofugal portal flow associated with acute rejection in living-donor auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation: a report of one case and literature review.

We report a case of reversible hepatofugal portal flow after auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) from a living donor in this study. On postoperative day 6, continuous hepatofugal portal flow was observed in the grafted liver without portal thrombosis and obstruction of the hepatic vein. Based on histological findings, acute rejection was the suspected cause. The normal portal venous flow was restored after steroid pulse and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapies. The patient was discharged on the 30th postoperative day. It was concluded that hepatofugal flow after liver transplantation is a sign of serious acute rejection, and can be successfully treated by anti-rejection therapy.