Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil

ABSTRACT Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) poses a significant challenge in liver transplant recipients, mostly resulting in persistent hypoxaemia postoperatively. We present the case of a 59‐year‐old male with decompensated metabolic dysfunction associated with steatohepatitis (MASH) cirrhosis, who ha...

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Main Authors: John Fanous, Dakota McNierney, Abdelmohaymin Abdalla, Jehad Azar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Respirology Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.70204
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author John Fanous
Dakota McNierney
Abdelmohaymin Abdalla
Jehad Azar
author_facet John Fanous
Dakota McNierney
Abdelmohaymin Abdalla
Jehad Azar
author_sort John Fanous
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) poses a significant challenge in liver transplant recipients, mostly resulting in persistent hypoxaemia postoperatively. We present the case of a 59‐year‐old male with decompensated metabolic dysfunction associated with steatohepatitis (MASH) cirrhosis, who had liver transplantation due to end‐stage liver disease complicated by HPS‐related hypoxaemia. Despite successful transplantation, the patient continued to experience severe hypoxaemia, requiring high supplemental oxygen despite maximal conservative treatment per guidelines. Potential causes for hypoxaemia post‐liver transplant have been excluded; HPS as the sole cause of hypoxaemia was proved with a repeat shunt study, which estimated the shunt at 59%. Treatment with inhaled Treprostinil led to a remarkable improvement in oxygenation, facilitating the successful weaning of oxygen supplementation. The patient's hypoxaemia improved to full recovery upon discharge. This case highlights the persistence of hypoxaemia post‐liver transplantation in HPS patients and underscores the potential role of inhaled Treprostinil as a novel therapeutic approach to address this complication.
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spelling doaj-art-5e2cfb8b4bbe4492bdbcb0d0eaddc4602025-08-20T02:38:22ZengWileyRespirology Case Reports2051-33802025-05-01135n/an/a10.1002/rcr2.70204Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled TreprostinilJohn Fanous0Dakota McNierney1Abdelmohaymin Abdalla2Jehad Azar3Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Mayo Clinic Phoenix Arizona USADepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Mayo Clinic Phoenix Arizona USADepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Mayo Clinic Phoenix Arizona USADepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Mayo Clinic Phoenix Arizona USAABSTRACT Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) poses a significant challenge in liver transplant recipients, mostly resulting in persistent hypoxaemia postoperatively. We present the case of a 59‐year‐old male with decompensated metabolic dysfunction associated with steatohepatitis (MASH) cirrhosis, who had liver transplantation due to end‐stage liver disease complicated by HPS‐related hypoxaemia. Despite successful transplantation, the patient continued to experience severe hypoxaemia, requiring high supplemental oxygen despite maximal conservative treatment per guidelines. Potential causes for hypoxaemia post‐liver transplant have been excluded; HPS as the sole cause of hypoxaemia was proved with a repeat shunt study, which estimated the shunt at 59%. Treatment with inhaled Treprostinil led to a remarkable improvement in oxygenation, facilitating the successful weaning of oxygen supplementation. The patient's hypoxaemia improved to full recovery upon discharge. This case highlights the persistence of hypoxaemia post‐liver transplantation in HPS patients and underscores the potential role of inhaled Treprostinil as a novel therapeutic approach to address this complication.https://doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.70204hepatopulmonary syndromeintrapulmonary shuntingliver transplantationTreprostinil
spellingShingle John Fanous
Dakota McNierney
Abdelmohaymin Abdalla
Jehad Azar
Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil
Respirology Case Reports
hepatopulmonary syndrome
intrapulmonary shunting
liver transplantation
Treprostinil
title Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil
title_full Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil
title_fullStr Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil
title_full_unstemmed Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil
title_short Overcoming Intrapulmonary Shunting: A Case Report of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Post‐Liver Transplantation Treated With Inhaled Treprostinil
title_sort overcoming intrapulmonary shunting a case report of hepatopulmonary syndrome post liver transplantation treated with inhaled treprostinil
topic hepatopulmonary syndrome
intrapulmonary shunting
liver transplantation
Treprostinil
url https://doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.70204
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AT abdelmohayminabdalla overcomingintrapulmonaryshuntingacasereportofhepatopulmonarysyndromepostlivertransplantationtreatedwithinhaledtreprostinil
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