Management of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome in a Child Due to a Large Congenital Intrahepatic Porto-Systemic Shunt

Background: Abernethy malformations are rare vascular anomalies of the portal system which present as extra-hepatic congenital portosystemic venous shunts (CPSS). Sometimes they can be intra-hepatic anomalies. There is scarcity of literature on management of these rare anomalies especially intra-hepatic shunts. Case: A five years old child came with the complaints of progressive breathlessness on exertion with effort-intolerance for the past two years. There was no history suggestive of underlying cardiopulmonary illness. On examination, there was cyanosis and clubbing. On evaluation, the imaging showed a large congenital intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt from the left portal vein draining directly into intrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) and a hypoplastic right branch of the portal vein leading to a clinical presentation of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Result: The shunt was occluded by placing a covered stent in the IVC across the shunt opening, making sure the openings of hepatic veins and renal vein also were not being covered. There was a significant improvement in oxygenation post procedure with complete disappearance of cyanosis. Conclusion: Covered IVC stent placement is a novel technique for large fusiform dilated intra-hepatic CPSS by closing the shunt flow into the IVC, thereby restoring the physiological flow in the liver.