Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage of intra-abdominal fluid collection after liver transplantation: a case series of six patients

Intra-abdominal fluid collection associated with infection is a major complication after liver transplantation (LT). However, post-LT recipients are at high risk for requiring various interventions and surgeries, due to their poor, immunosuppressed conditions. We herein describe six patients with symptomatic or growing intra-abdominal fluid collection after LT who underwent endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided drainage. There were five males and one female, and the median age was 47 years (24–60 years). All procedures were technically and clinically successful in all patients. The median number of endoscopic sessions was 2.5 (1–4 sessions) until resolution. Procedure-related adverse events occurred in two patients and included peritonitis, bleeding, and stent migration, which improved conservatively or endoscopically. During the median follow-up period of 63 months (17–110 months), recurrence occurred in one patient. EUS-guided drainage is an effective and safe treatment for intra-abdominal fluid collection even in post-LT recipients.