多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像在胰源性门脉高压症诊断中的应用

目的 研究多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像在胰源性门静脉高压患者诊断中的应用.方法 应用16排多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像,对47例临床怀疑胰腺体尾部病变的患者的门静脉系统形态改变与126例肝源性门脉高压患者和47例正常对照组进行形态学对比观察,并测量胃冠状静脉、门静脉、脾静脉、肠系膜上静脉内径、门静脉期肝实质和门静脉主干CT值,对比肝脏、脾脏体积.结果 在47例胰腺体尾部病变中发现有脾静脉狭窄、闭塞者38例,其中胰腺肿瘤患者27例(71.1%),急慢性胰腺炎患者11例(28.9%).38例胰源性门脉高压患者中,发现食管静脉曲张5例(13.2%),胃底静脉曲张25例(65.8%),胃体静脉曲张22例(57.9%),胃短-胃后静脉显示26例(68.4%),胃冠状静脉显示26例(68.4%),发现胃网膜静脉曲张24例(63.2%),肠系膜静脉曲张1例.脾静脉闭塞14例(36.8%),脾静脉狭窄23例(63.2%).结论 胰源性门脉高压在影像学上表现为脾静脉栓塞,脾脏增大,脾门处大量曲张静脉,胃后-胃短静脉及胃网膜静脉增粗迂曲,胃底和胃体静脉曲张,较少合并食管静脉曲张,肝脏形态大小亦无异常.多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像检查可为胰源性门脉高压患者提供血管形态、病因诊断等多方面有价值信息,为临床诊断和治疗提供客观的影像学依据.     

肝硬化非常见侧支循环临床特点研究

目的 探讨肝硬化患者门体循环之间非常见侧支循环形成的临床特点及意义。方法 对临床确诊为肝硬化的患者运用64排螺旋CT和三维血管成像结合电子胃镜检查,观察其门体循环之间非常见侧支循环的形成。结果 ①700例肝硬化患者中118例(16.86%)存在非常见侧支循环,依次为脾肾静脉分流、胃肾静脉分流、椎旁静脉分流、腹膜后静脉分流、胃脾分流和心膈角静脉分流。②非常见侧支循环形成与肝硬化Child-Pugh分级相关(P<0.01)。③与常见侧支循环形成组比较,非常见侧支循环组较少出现重度食管和(或)胃底静脉曲张、重度门静脉高压性胃病及大量腹水(P<0.01)。④非常见侧支循环组中肝性脑病和慢性血氨升高的发生率高于常见侧支循环组(P<0.01)。结论 ①肝硬化患者中非常见侧支循环并不"非常见";②非常见侧支循环形成与肝功能Child-Pugh分级有关;③非常见侧支循环形成可缓解门静脉高压引起的相关并发症,但增大了肝性脑病和慢性血氨升高的发病率。     

64层螺旋CT对门静脉海绵样变性的诊断价值

目的探讨64层螺旋CT在门静脉海绵样变性（CTPV）诊断中的价值。方法对CT检查发现的CTPV患者22例,采用MPR、MIP、VR等图像后处理技术显示异常的门静脉及侧支血管情况。结果 22例CTPV在CT平扫上显示门静脉结构不清,肝门区可见多发的结节状、条状软组织影。增强扫描显示6例动脉期肝实质灌注异常;门静脉期11例患者门静脉主干和（或）左右分支增粗,内可见充盈缺损,4例门静脉显示不清;2例门静脉主干和（或）左右分支在正常范围内;4例门静脉主干变细;1例门静脉主干受侵致管腔狭窄。胆管周围静脉丛（86.36%）、胆囊静脉（77.27%）及食管胃底静脉（77.27%）呈点状、细网状、簇状扩张。结论 64层螺旋CT能准确显示CTPV的部位、范围,立体地显示各曲张血管的走行及曲张程度,是检查CTPV的有效手段。     

Hepatic vascular disease and portal hypertension in polycythemia vera and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia: a clinicopathological study of 145 patients examined at autopsy

The pathogenesis of portal hypertension arising in patients with myeloproliferative disorders has been difficult to understand because liver biopsy findings often show minimal changes. It has been suggested that increased splenic blood flow, hepatic infiltration with hematopoietic cells or sinusoidal fibrosis may be important. We have reviewed the autopsy findings and clinical histories of 97 patients with polycythemia vera and 48 patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia collected from three institutions and from the Polycythemia Vera Study Group. Cirrhosis was present in seven patients, one of whom had bleeding varices. Esophageal varices were present clinically in 10 patients without cirrhosis (seven polycythemia and three agnogenic myeloid metaplasia). All of these patients had lesions in small or medium-sized portal veins and four had stenosis of the extrahepatic portal vein with histology compatible with organized thrombi. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia occurred in 14.6% and correlated closely with the presence of portal vein lesions. Thirty patients had greater than 500 ml of ascites, seven of these patients also had varices and six of them had hepatic vein thrombosis. Ascites also correlated with hepatic vein disease confined to small intrahepatic branches. No correlation was seen between hepatic hematopoietic infiltration and signs of portal hypertension. We conclude that esophageal varices are common and are almost always associated with portal vein lesions visible by light microscopy. These portal vein lesions, and the secondary effects of nodular regenerative hyperplasia and portal hypertension, are most likely a result of portal vein thrombosis in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.     

Intrahepatic Portosystemic Venous Shunt: Diagnosis by Color Doppler Imaging

Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt is a rare clinical entity; only 33 such cases have been reported. It may be congenital, or secondary to portal hypertension. Five patients with this disorder are presented, each of whom was diagnosed by color Doppler imaging, including waveform spectral analysis. One patient with clinical evidence of cirrhosis and portal hypertension had episodes of hepatic encephalopathy and elevated blood levels of ammonia. This patient had a large tubular shunt between the posterior branch of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. Shunts of this type are considered to be collateral pathways which develop in the hepatic parenchyma as a result of portal hypertension. The other four patients had no evidence of liver disease, and all four evidenced an ancurysmal portohepatic venous shunt within the liver parenchyma. Shunts of this type are considered congenital. The diagnosis of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts was established by color Doppler imaging, which demonstrated a direct communication of color flow signals between the portal vein and hepatic vein, in addition to the characterization of the Doppler spectrum at each sampling point from a continuous waveform signal (portal vein) to a turbulent signal (aneurysmal cavity), and finally, to a biphasic waveform signal (hepatic vein). As demonstrated by the five patients, color Doppler imaging is useful in the diagnosis of an intrahepatic portosystemic hepatic venous shunt, and the measurement of shunt ratio may be useful in the follow-up and determining the therapeutic option.     

216例肝硬化门静脉高压症患者CT血管成像门静脉侧支血管表现研究

目的探讨肝硬化患者CT 门静脉血管成像中门静脉侧支血管表现,为临床诊断提供依据。方法回顾性研究2013年1月~2014 年1月本院收治的 216 例临床诊断为肝硬化门静脉高压症患者的临床和CT检查资料,针对患者CT门静脉血管成像和门静脉侧支血管三维重建图像进行分析。结果216例患者中,肝硬化门体分流侧支血管的分布、走行及解剖毗邻关系在CT 门静脉血管成像图像上都能得到良好、直观的显示,其中胃左静脉曲张者172例（79.63%）,食管下段静脉曲张者100例（46.30%）,食管旁静脉曲张者 51例（23.61%）,胃/脾肾静脉分流者50例（23.15%）,附脐静脉及腹壁静脉曲张者36例（16.67%）;胃/脾肾静脉分流患者门静脉和脾静脉直径分别为（12.64±1.12） mm和（18.72±3.48） mm,与无分流患者比较有统计学差异[分别为（19.56±5.64） mm和（13.47±2.35）mm,P<0.05]。结论对肝硬化门脉高压患者行CT 门静脉血管成像检查能够对患者侧支循环的部位、严重程度等进行观察,并作出准确的判断。     

Duplex Doppler ultrasound of the ligamentum teres and portal vein: A clinically useful adjunct in the evaluation of patients with known or suspected chronic liver disease or portal hypertension

The prevalence and potential value of the detection of signs of portal hypertension by duplex Doppler ultrasound (DDU) of the ligamentum teres and portal vein in patients with known or suspected chronic liver disease and/or portal hypertension was studied in 136 consecutive patients undergoing clinical assessment including that of liver histopathology. Portal hypertension was considered to be present when any of the following DDU signs, previously demonstrated to be specific for portal hypertension, were present: an enlarged and/or patent para-umbilical vein, portal vein obstruction or hepatofugal flow in the portal vein. Of 123 patients with parenchymal liver disease, eighty-three had cirrhosis and, of these, portal hypertension was detected on DDU criteria in 86% of alcoholic cirrhotics and 67% of non-alcoholic cirrhotics. Of the 42 patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease, 1 of 7 patients with metastatic liver disease and 3 of 5 patients with alcoholic hepatitis had DDU signs of portal hypertension. Thus, in patients with parenchymal liver disease, DDU had a sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 90% and predictive values of 94 and 62% for positive and negative studies respectively for the detection of cirrhosis. In all 14 patients with portal hypertension secondary to vascular occlusive diseases, DDU examination of the ligamentum teres, portal vein and hepatic vein gave an accurate guide to the site of the occluding lesion. The high positive predictive value of DDU and its ability to aid in localizing the site of increased resistance to flow through the liver suggest that DDU of the ligamentum teres and portal vein is a potentially useful non-invasive adjunct in the assessment of patients with suspected or known liver disease or portal hypertension.     

Anti-VEGF receptor-2 monoclonal antibody prevents portal-systemic collateral vessel formation in portal hypertensive mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Portal hypertension is a frequent syndrome that develops in patients with chronic liver diseases, which are one of the most common causes of death in adults worldwide. The most serious clinical consequences of portal hypertension are related to the development of portal-systemic collateral vessels. Those include hepatic encephalopathy and massive bleeding from ruptured gastroesophageal varices. The high relevance of these collateral vessels prompted us to investigate the mechanism underlying its formation in a murine model of portal hypertension. METHODS: To determine whether the development of portal-systemic collateral vessels in portal hypertension is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent angiogenic process, we assessed the effects of a monoclonal antibody against VEGF receptor-2 on the formation of these collateral vessels in mice with portal hypertension induced by partial portal vein ligation. We also studied the effects of a selective and specific inhibitor of VEGF receptor-2 autophosphorylation in partial portal vein-ligated rats. RESULTS: A significant and marked inhibition in the formation of portal-systemic collateral vessels was observed in both partial portal vein-ligated mice and rats treated with anti-VEGF receptor-2 monoclonal antibodies or with the inhibitor of VEGF receptor-2 autophosphorylation, respectively, compared with animals receiving control solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study shows that formation of collateral vessels is an angiogenesis-dependent process that can be markedly inhibited by blockade of the VEGF signaling pathway. These findings will make angiogenesis a focal point of research in portal hypertension and may lead to novel approaches for therapy of patients with chronic liver diseases.     

螺旋CT门静脉造影对门脉高压侧支循环的研究

目的探讨多排螺旋CT门静脉造影(CT portal venography,CTPV)显示肝硬化门脉高压侧支循环血管的临床应用价值。方法对92例肝硬化门脉高压的患者分别进行CT门脉造影,获得门脉侧支循环血管的清晰图像,测量门静脉主干和胃左静脉直径,将胃镜与CT门静脉造影两种技术进行比较。结果应用CT门静脉造影能清晰显示和测量门脉侧支循环的血管。CT门静脉造影与胃镜两种方法对食管和胃底曲张静脉的显示能力具有一致性,Kappa值分别为0.502和0.478。结论应用多排螺旋CT门静脉造影能很好显示和测量门体间侧支循环血管。联合应用多排螺旋CT门静脉造影与胃镜两种方法,对于肝硬化门静脉高压患者的诊断、病情判断和估计预后有帮助。     

Pathology of portal hypertension

Abstract   Portal hypertension may be the result of intra- and extrahepatic impediment of portal venous blood flow. Portal vein thrombosis is the major cause of prehepatic portal hypertension, and hepatic vein occlusion, congestive heart failure and constrictive pericarditis lead to posthepatic portal hypertension. Cirrhosis is the most common intrahepatic lesion responsible for portal hypertension. Idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension results from obliterative injuries more specifically directed to intrahepatic portal vascular structures (macro- and microvascular portal vein disease). Under these conditions, portal vascular dilatation, herniation into the periportal parenchyma and paraportal shunt vessels resemble collateral pathways. The liver parenchyma often shows nodular transformation which may even be the only clue to the presence of small portal vein obstruction in a small liver biopsy. Thus, the morphologic changes associated with idiopathic portal hypertension may be subtle and non-specific. Their recognition, particularly in the liver biopsy, is a challenge to the pathologist.     

Relationship between encephalopathy and portal vein-vena cava shunt： Value of computed tomography during arterial portography

AIM: TO assess the value of computed tomography during arterial portography (CTAP) in portal vein-vena cava shunt,and analysis of the episode risk in encephalopathy.METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with portal-systemic encephalopathy due to portal hypertension were classified by West Haven method into grade Ⅰ(29 cases), gradeⅡ(16 cases), grade Ⅲ(10 cases), grade Ⅳ( 4 cases). All the patients were scanned by spiraI-CT. Plane scans, artery phase and portal vein phase enhancement scans were performed, and the source images were thinly reconstructed to 1.25 mm. We reconstructed the celiac trunk, portal vein,inferior vena cava and their branches and subjected them to three-dimensional vessel analysis by volume rendering(VR) technique and multiplanar volume reconstruction (MPVR) technique. The blood vessel reconstruction technique was used to evaluate the scope and extent of portal vein-vena cava shunt, portal vein emboli and the fistula of hepatic artery- portal vein. The relationship between the episode risk of portal-systemic encephalopathy and the scope and extent of portal vein-vena cava shunt,portal vein emboli and fistula of hepatic artery- portal vein was studied.RESULTS: The three-dimensional vessel reconstruction technique of spiraI-CT could display celiac trunk, portal vein,inferior vena cava and their branches at any planes and angles and the scope and extent of portal vein-vena cavashunt, portal vein emboli and the fistula of hepatic artery- portal vein. In twenty-nine patients with portal-systemicencephalopathy, grade Ⅰ accounted for 89.7% esophageal varices, 86.2% paragastric varices; grade Ⅱ accounted for 68.75% cirsomphalos, 56.25% paraesophageal varices,62.5% retroperitoneal varices and 81.25% dilated azygos vein; grade Ⅲ accounted for 80% cirsomphalos, 60%paraesophageal varices, 70% retroperitoneal varices, 90% dilated azygos vein, and part of the patients in grades Ⅱand Ⅲ had portal vein emboli and fistula of hepatic arteryportal vein; grade Ⅳ accounted for 75% dilated left renal vein, 50% paragallbladder varices, all the patients had fistula of hepatic artery- portal vein.CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional vessel reconstruction technique of spiraI-CT can clearly display celiac trunk, portal vein, inferior vena cava and their branches at any planes and angles and the scope and extent of portal vein-vena cava shunt. The technique is valuable for evaluating the episode risk in portal-systemic encephalopathy.     

Portal-systemic shunting in a patient with normal portal vein pressures and histological evidence of idiopathic portal hypertension

Although idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is clinically characterized by portal hypertension and marked splenomegaly, we have experienced a case of spontaneous portal-systemic shunt without splenomegaly in whom the liver histology resembled IPH but with normal portal pressure. We admitted a 64 year old man who had suffered from hepatic encephalopathy for 2 years. Laparoscopy revealed a dark grey liver with a sharp edge and a concave surface. Examination of a liver biopsy specimen revealed peri-portal fibrosis consistent with IPH. A single, large, portal-systemic shunt was identified by percutaneous transhepatic portography. The shunt arose from the left gastric vein and flowed through the left renal vein into the inferior vena cava. No varices were identified. There were no morphological changes in the hepatic or portal veins. Portal vein pressure was normal. There was a slight difference between the portal pressure and the wedged hepatic vein pressure, suggesting a presinusoidal block. This case raises important questions concerning the aetiology of IPH and the relationship between portal hypertension and the development of collateral venous circulation.     

Focal hepatic lesions mimicking cavernous hemangioma supplied by the portal vein.

We report that imaging findings of focal hepatic lesion mimicking cavernous hemangioma supplied by the portal vein, which showed delayed enhancement on CT and hyperintensity similar to that of cerebrospinal fluid on T2-weighted MR images. Biopsy specimen showed the dilated portal veins and hyperplastic change in the surrounding liver parenchyma. CT during arterial portography (CTAP), in particular single-level dynamic CTAP, could clearly depict the abnormal dilated portal vein in the lesion and facilitated the diagnosis of this condition.     

应用CTA技术和超声评估肝移植术患者术前肝脏血供状态研究*

目的 研究计算机断层扫描血管成像(CTA)和超声检测评估肝移植术患者术前肝脏血管解剖变异和管腔通畅性。方法 2014年5月～2020年5月我院收治的接受肝移植手术患者138例,术前均行腹部三期CT增强扫描、CTA后处理[包括容积再现(VR)和最大密度投影(MIP)等重建和超声检查。分析肝动脉、门静脉、肝静脉和下腔静脉及其侧支循环情况。结果 138例患者中,CTA显示107例(77.5%)肝动脉解剖起源和走行正常(Michels aⅠ型),31例(22.5%)存在肝动脉解剖变异,肝动脉管腔未出现狭窄和异常扩张情况,1例(0.7%)合并脾动脉瘤;136例患者术中肝动脉解剖与术前CTA评估一致;CTA诊断血栓和瘤栓的灵敏度和准确度分别为83.3%和68.6%,而超声检查诊断为58.3%(P<0.05)和60.0%;超声和CTA诊断肝静脉和下腔静脉通畅性的准确率均为99.3%。结论 相对于超声检查,CTA检查可准确评估肝移植术前肝动脉解剖变异情况,对门静脉栓子定性诊断的准确性也较高,且可清晰显示门静脉侧支循环开放情况。     

Liver involvement in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, characterized by widespread telangiectases that can involve the skin, mucous membranes, lung, brain, gastrointestinal tract and/or liver. It has an estimated prevalence of 1 to 2 cases per 10,000. The prevalence of hepatic involvement in HHT had been estimated in 8% to 31% in retrospective studies but in more recent large prospective series the prevalence is higher, ranging between 41% and 78%. Nevertheless, symptoms occur only in 8% of the patients with HHT and liver involvement. Liver involvement by HHT is characterized by widespread diffuse liver vascular malformations that give rise to three types of shunting: arteriovenous (hepatic artery to hepatic vein), arterioportal (hepatic artery to portal vein), and portovenous (portal vein to hepatic vein). The three most common initial clinical presentations are high-output heart failure, portal hypertension and biliary disease. We describe the case of a patient with diagnosis of HHT and hepatic involvement and we review of the literature. A 58-year-old woman with HHT came to consultation with heart failure symptoms and echographic and endoscopic findings of portal hypertension. The multislice computed tomography of the abdomen revealed the presence of multiple telangiectases in the hepatic parenchyma and a shunt from the hepatic artery to the portal vein. We conclude that the symptomatic involvement of the liver in HHT is an extremely infrequent entity. It must be suspected when clinical manifestations and compatible imagenologic findings exist in patients with antecedents of HHT.     

The significance of portal vein embolization in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases

The first aim of the present paper was to evaluate hypertrophy of liver parenchyma after portal vein embolization in patients after systemic chemotherapy for colorectal carcinoma metastases and planned extensive liver resections. The second aim was to study whether hypertrophy of the liver parenchyma remnant after could influence the postoperative course large liver resections in long-term chemotherapy within complex therapy of colorectal carcinoma.The prospective study comprised of 43 patients with colorectal hepatic metastases in whom liver resections of 4-5 segments were planned (Table 1). All patients underwent complex therapy of colorectal carcinoma, including chemotherapy consisting of 6-12 therapeutic cycles. Time interval between chemotherapy and liver resection was 2-24 months (mean interval of 8 months). Twenty patients whose presumed liver parenchyma remnant was less than 40% of total liver volume were indicated for portal vein embolization (mean liver parenchyma remnant of 29%). This was always embolization of the right portal branch. Twenty-three patients were primarily indicated to liver resection. RESULTS: Hypertrophy of the left liver lobe occurred in all 20 patients. After portal vein embolization, the volume of left liver increased on average from 476 ml (282-754) to 584 ml (380-892) (P < 0.05). Mean hypertrophy of left liver lobe after portal vein embolization was 28.5%. The measured parenchyma remnant after tumor resection increased from 29% up to 38% by hypertrophy. Mean values of ALT and AST in the postoperative period were significantly different in the groups in this study. The values of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GMT) were lower in patients after portal vein embolization (P < 0.05). Significant differences were in postoperative level of serum bilirubin, bilirubin levels in patients after portal vein embolization were 2-3 times lower than in the group of patients after immediate surgery (P < 0.05). he values of prothrombin time were also significantly lower in patients who underwent surgery without previous portal vein embolization (P < 0.05).     

肝血管性疾病门静脉高压的介入性诊断与治疗

目的探讨介入方法对肝血管性疾病门静脉高压的诊断和治疗效果。方法 6例因慢性肝病史临床初诊疑似肝硬化门静脉高压的患者,增强CT及MRI检查发现门静脉显影时间及形态异常。经数字减影血管造影（DSA）确诊4例为肝动脉-门静脉畸形,2例为布-加综合征肝静脉狭窄。造影后分别予以选择性肝动脉栓塞和肝静脉扩张成形治疗。结果所有介入性治疗操作均获得技术性成功,无并发症发生。治疗后血管造影显示肝动脉畸形血管完全消失或大部分已不显影,肝静脉狭窄解除。所有患者介入治疗后近期临床门静脉高压症状明显改善或消失。1例弥漫性肝动脉-门静脉瘘患者2次栓塞后6个月发现门静脉主干血栓形成,行溶栓和经颈静脉肝内门体分流术（TIPS）治疗后症状消失;1例布-加综合征肝静脉狭窄于3年后复发,在外院植入肝静脉支架。结论应用介入方法对肝血管性疾病导致的门静脉高压进行确诊和治疗确切有效,是安全而微创性的诊疗手段     

Study on hepatocellular carcinoma-associated hepatic arteriovenous shunt using multidetector CT

AIM: To investigate multidetector CT (MDCT) findings of hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC)- associated hepatic arteriovenous shunt (HAVS) and to evaluate their clinical significance. METHODS: Thin-slice and dynamic enhancement MDCT of HAVS was performed on 56 patients with HCC. MDCT findings, including those of portal veins, hepatic veins, superior mesenteric veins, splenic veins, HCC foci, liver parenchyma without HCC foci, spleens, and thromboses in portal veins and hepatic veins, were all confirmed by digital subtract angiography and analyzed. RESULTS: MDCT demonstrated earlier enhancement of main portal trunks and/or the first order branches than that of superior mesenteric veins or splenic veins (n=31). One patient had strong early enhancement of left hepatic vein with thromboses in left hepatic vein and upper part of inferior vena cava and 1 patient had transient patchy enhancement peripheral to HCC foci in late hepatic arterial phase among them. It demonstrated stronger opacification of main portal trunks and/or the first order branches than that of superior mesenteric veins or splenic veins (n=18), and earlier enhancement of the second order and smaller branches of portal veins than that of main portal trunks (n=4), stronger opacification of the second order and smaller branches of portal veins than that of main portal trunks (n=3), with transient patchy enhancement (n=3) or wedge-shaped enhancement (n=4) peripheral to HCC foci in late hepatic arterial phase. Enhancement degree of HCC foci was all decreased. As for 49 patients with severe or moderate shunts, enhancement degree of liver parenchyma without HCC foci was increased with heterogeneous density, but enhancement degree of spleens was decreased. There were thromboses in main portal trunks and/or the first order branches in 32 patients. CONCLUSION: The main MDCT findings of HCC-associated HAVS are earlier enhancement and stronger opacification of portal veins and/or hepatic veins. Understanding of these findings will contribute to the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease and improve therapy for the patients.     

Transhepatic catheter-directed thrombolysis for portal vein thrombosis after partial splenic embolization in combination with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of splenorenal shunt

A 66-year-old woman underwent partial splenic embolization (PSE) for hypersplenism with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). One week later, contrast-enhanced CT revealed extensive portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and dilated portosystemic shunts. The PVT was not dissolved by the intravenous administration of urokinase. The right portal vein was canulated via the percutaneous transhepatic route under ultrasonic guidance and a 4 Fr. straight catheter was advanced into the portal vein through the thrombus. Transhepatic catheter-directed thrombolysis was performed to dissolve the PVT and a splenorenal shunt was concurrently occluded to increase portal blood flow, using balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) technique. Subsequent contrast-enhanced CT showed good patency of the portal vein and thrombosed splenorenal shunt. Transhepatic catheter-directed thrombolysis combined with BRTO is feasible and effective for PVT with portosystemic shunts.