Objective To explore the clinical presentation and diagnosis and treatment of prehepatic portal hypertension （PPH） and discuss its surgical strategies. Methods Forty-six cases of PPH treated in the 2nd Artillery General Hospital and Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to May 2009 were analyzed retrospectively, including 2 cases of Abernethy abnormality. All patients were evaluated by indirect portal vein angiography, CT angiography and (or) portal duplex system Doppler ultrasonography before treament. Surgical strategies included: 23 cases with meso-caval shunt, 8 cases with splenectomy and spleno-renal vein shunt, 1 case with porta-caval shunt, 2 cases with paraumbilical vein-jugular vein shunt, 3 cases with portal azygous disconnection, 1 cases with splenectomy and portal azygous disconnection, 1 case with sigmoidostomy and closed the fistula of sigmoid six months later, 1 case with resection of part of small intestine due to acute extensive thrombosis of portal vein system, 4 cases with selective superior mesenteric artery and (or) splenic artery thrombolytic infusion therapy, 2 cases remained no-surgical option and underwent conservative treatment. Results Forty-four patients were followed-up from 2 months to 5 years， average of 23.4 months, one patient without surgical treatment was lost. Satisfactory outcomes were obtained in 34 patients with various shunts, which expressed as a release of hypersplenism and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Two cases were treated with meso-caval shunt because of rehemorrhage in month 13 and 24 and one died in month 8 after disconnection, one died on day 40 after thrombolytic therapy due to putrescence of intestines, one who remained no-surgical option underwent hemorrhage 4 months later, and then went well by conservative treatment. Conclusion The key of treatment of PPH is to reduce the pressure of hepatic portal vein. Surgical managements of shunt and selective superior mesenteric artery and (or) splenic artery thrombolytic infusion therapy are safe and effective, but individual treatment strategy should be performed.
In the treatment of portal hypertension, association of both hassab operation and splenorenal shunt was performed selectively on six cases by authors from 1987 to 1994, and better results were obtatined in five patients. In this article, the experience and operative Techniques are introduced in detail, and he advantages of this procedure are evaluated.
Objective To evaluate the effect of triplex operations (splenopneumopexy, portal azygous devascularization and ligation of splenic artery) for children with extrahepatic portal hypertension. Methods From March 1993 to November 1998, 7 children with extrahepatic portal hypertension underwent triplexoperations. The diagnosis for these patients were confirmed by gastroscopy, barium meal and Doppler ultrasonography. The number of WBCand platelet and the hepatic function were checked before and after operations.And the free portal pressures were checked before and after ligations of the splenic artery. All patients were followed up for 2 to 8 years (5.6 years on average). The episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were recorded. The degrees of varices of distal esophagus and proximal stomach were assessed by barium mealand gastroscopy. The diameters of the splenic and portal veins were obtained byBultrasound. The portopulmonary shunt and portal blood flow were evaluated by color Doppler flow image. The indices of hemorheology such as hematocrit, viscosity of whole blood and plasma, and the index of deformability and aggregability of RBC were obtained through viscometer (R-20 Seerle, Beijing). Results There was no operative fatal case in this group. Postoperatively, hemorrhage from the esophagus and gastric varices was completely controlled. Although the diameter of spleen reduced progressively, no patient’s spleen recovered to normal size during the follow up period. The degree of varices was mitigated and the free portal pressure was significantly decreased to （34.48±5.71） cm H2 O from the preoperative one （42.62±6.72） cm H2 O (P＜0.05). The rate of portal flow was alsodecreased. The direction of portal vein was bidirection (one part was away from the liver and the other was toward the liver). The number of WBC and platelet and the viscosity of whole blood and hematocrit were increased to normal value after operation. Conclusion The triplex operation is an effective procedure for the control of hemorrhage from varices in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasound in diagnosing prehepatic portal hypertension. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed to analyze the results of color Doppler ultrasonography in 9 patients with prehepatic portal hypertension diagnosed between June 2012 and January 2015, including vessel diameter, shape, nature and direction of blood flow, and fistula blood flow spectrum. ResultsAmong the 9 patients, the color Doppler ultrasound found 3 patients with regional portal widened, increased and faster blood flow with the emergence of low-impedance spectrum artery, splenic vein widened with returning blocked and flocculent substance within the splenic vein lumen, irregular or streak-shaped low weak echo during splenic vein reduction, and unstable or weakened blood flow velocity. Two patients were confirmed with splenic vein thrombosis by ultrasound and other imaging methods with significantly reduced blood in splenic vein. For the other four patients with regional portal hypertension, obvious abnormalities in portal system were not detected by color Doppler ultrasound, but they were checked with other methods. The ultrasound positive diagnosis of the 9 patients was 5, with 4 missed. ConclusionThe color Doppler ultrasound has some values in screening, diagnosis and follow-up of prehepatic portal hypertension, but it can also be influenced by many factors with a high missed diagnosis rate. Carefully observing the portal system lumen structure, internal echo and blood flow combined with other imaging studies, and emphasizing clinical history of the patients can further improve diagnostic accuracy.
This study was to build a canine portal hypertension model by intra-portal administration of high polymer material polyurethane and organic solvent tetrahydrofuran mixed solutions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. Twelve local crossbreed dogs were selected randomly, with intra-portal administration of 8% (weight/volume) polyurethane-tetrahydrofuran solutions through an incision in the upper abdomen to build the portal hypertension model. We measured the portal vein pressure before modeling, during modeling, and four-, eight-, and twelve-weeks after modeling, respectively. Then we evaluated the effectiveness of the model comparing values of data with those data obtained before modeling started, which were regarded as the normal values. The results showed that the portal vein pressure rose by 2.5 times after the solution administrated instantly as much as that before modeling, and maintained at 1.5 times after 4 weeks. This method presents an easy operation, low animal mortality and reliable model of portal hypertension. Its less abdominal adhesions and its ability in keeping normal anatomic structure specially make it suit for surgical research of portal hypertension.
ObjectiveTo summarize research progress of vascular physiological function of epoxyeicosatrienoic acid and its impact on pathogenesis of cirrhotic portal hypertension. MethodLiteratures about recent studies on epoxyeicosatrienoic acid in different organs and different animal models including cirrhotic portal hypertension were reviewed according to the results searched from PubMed and Wanfang databases. ResultsEpoxyeicosatrienoic acid in the different organs and the different animal models showed the complex functions, and it might affect the development of cirrhosis portal hypertension disease through its vascular physiological function. ConclusionIncreasing or decreasing epoxyeicosatrienoic acid might affect development of cirrhosis portal hypertension disease, which could provide a new method for treatment of cirrhosis portal hypertension.
Objective To explore predictive value of radiological indexes for hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension. Methods The clinical data and radiological data of patients with portal hypertension accompanied with hepatitis B from June 2008 to June 2014 in the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, portal vein thrombosis, or portal hypertension due to other causes, such as autoimmune hepatitis, pancreatitis, or hematological diseases were excluded. Results Ninety-eight patients were studied and subsequently divided into a hemorrhage group (n=57) and a non-hemorrhage group (n=41). There were no statistical differences in the clinical indexes such as the age, prothrombin time, serum albumin, serum creatinine, serum sodium, white blood cell count, and blood platelet count (P>0.05). However, the differences were statistically significant in the serum total bilirubin, hemoglobin, and liver function with theP values of 0.023, 0.000, and 0.039, respectively. For the radiological indexes, the hemorrhage was correlated with the diameter of posterior gastric vein (P=0.028 3) or grading of esophageal varices (P=0.022 1). Logistic procedure was used to construct the model with stepwise selection and finally the diameter of inferior mesenteric vein, diameter of posterior gastric vein, grading of esophageal varices, and diameter of short gastric vein were enrolled into this model. These indexes were scored, the risk of bleeding increased with increasing the points. Then the model was validated with 26 patients with portal hypertension from July 2014 to December 2014, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.884 9 by this radiological model. Conclusions A radiological scoring model is constructed including diameter of inferior mesenteric vein, grading of esophageal varices, diameter of posterior gastric vein, and diameter of short gastric vein, which might predict risk of hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension. However, further protective study of large sample is needed to validate this model.
Objective To summarize the effect of the splenectomy in patients with portal hypertension on the occurrence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The related literatures about the splenectomy in patients with hepatocirrhosis combined with portal hypertension or patients with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal hypertension in recent years were reviewed. Results At present, most academics considered that, for patients with hepatocirrhosis combined with portal hypertension, splenectomy could reduce the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal hypertension, splenectomy+hepatectomy didn’t increase the perioperative mortality, and it could reduce the recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion Splenectomy for patients with portal hypertension is safe, and it can inhibit the occurrence and progress of hepatocellular carcinoma, however, the specific mechanism remain needs further study.
Objective To explore the risk factors of postoperative portal vein system thrombus (PVST) after laparoscopic splenectomy in treatment of portal hypertension and hypersplenism. Methods Clinical data of 76 patients with portal hypertension and hypersplenism who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in the Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2012 to January 2017 were analyzed. Results There were 31 patients suffered from PVST (PVST group), and other 45 patients enrolled in non-PVST group.There were significant differences on age, diameter of splenic vein, diameter of portal vein, blood flow velocity of portal vein, level of D-dimer, and platelet count between the PVST group and the non-PVST group (P<0.05), but there were no significant difference on gender, Child-Pugh classification, etiology of cirrhosis, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, and prothrombin time between the two groups (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, patients with age >50 years (RR=1.31, P=0.02), splenic vein diameter >12 mm ( RR=1.29, P<0.01), portal vein diameter >13 mm (RR=1.55, P=0.01), blood flow velocity of portal vein <18 cm/s ( RR=1.47, P<0.01), increases level of D-dimer (RR=2.89, P=0.03), and elevated platelet count (RR=1.82 P=0.02) had higher risk of postoperative PVST than those patients with age ≤50 years, splenic vein diameter ≤12 mm, portal vein diameter ≤13 mm, blood flow velocity of portal vein ≥18 cm/s, normal level of D-dimer and platelet count. Conclusion For patients with portal hypertension and hypersplenism who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy, we should pay more attention to the risk factor, such as D-dimer and so on, to avoid the occurrence of postoperative PVST.
Objective To explore treatment strategy of pancreatic pseudocyst induced left-sided portal hypertension (LSPH) complicated with hypersplenism. Methods The clinical data of 49 cases of pancreatic pseudocyst induced LSPH complicated with hypersplenism from January 2010 to June 2015 in this hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 36 patients who were not complicated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were designed to splenectomy group and non-splenectomy group based on splenectomy or not. The epidemiological and clinical features, intraoperative and postoperative results of these two groups were compared. Results There were 38 males and 11 females with age ranging from 22 to 67 years old. As for 13 patients suffering LSPH complicated with hypersplenism caused by pancreatic pseudocyst with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, one patient didn’t accept splenectomy, then the upper gastrointestinal bleeding recurred and the hypersplenism was not alleviated after operation; Whereas, the hypersplenisms were relieved in the others patients after operation. In the 36 patients without upper gastrointestinal bleeding who were complicated with hypersplenism, 23 patients were performed splenectomy (splenectomy group) and 13 patients were not (non-splenectomy group). In the splenectomy group, the blood loss, operation time, and intraoperative blood transfusion were significantly more than those of the non-splenectomy group (P<0.05). The hospital stay and the discharged laboratory examinations had no significant differences between the splenectomy group and the non-splenectomy group (P>0.05) except for the platelet count. Furthermore, the incidence of the postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding was lower (P<0.05) and the relief rate of hypersplenism was higher (P<0.05) in the splenectomy group as compared with the non-splenectomy group. Conclusions For pancreatic pseudocyst induced LSPH with hypersplenism, we should be vigilant and early intervent. Usually, primary focus can be treated only. However, splenectomy can effectively relieve hypersplenism and prevent recurrent bleeding for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding or patients with close adhesion of pancreas tail and spleen inflammatory lesions and constricting splenic hilus.