New trends in surgical treatment for portal hypertension

A number of surgical procedures have been developed to manage esophageal varices. Broadly, these can be classified as shunting and non-shunting procedures. While total shunt effectively reduces the incidence of variceal bleeding, it is associated with a high risk of hepatic encephalopathy. The distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS), a selective shunt, was developed by Warren in 1967 to preserve portal blood flow through the liver while lowering variceal pressure. The hope was that both bleeding and hyperammonemia would be prevented. The DSRS effectively prevents rebleeding, but still carries a risk of hyperammonemia. We improved the DSRS procedure by additionally performing splenopancreatic disconnection (SPD, i.e. skeletonization of the splenic vein from the pancreas to its bifurcation at the splenic hilum) and gastric transection (GT, i.e. transection and anastomosis of the upper stomach with an autosuture instrument). An alternative to shunting was developed by Sugiura and Futagawa in 1973. Esophageal transection (ET) divides and reanastomoses the distal esophagus and devascularizes the distal esophagus and proximal stomach; splenectomy, selective vagotomy, and pyloroplasty are performed concomitantly. DSRS was more effective than ET in preventing recurrence of esophageal varices, but was associated with a higher incidence of hyperammonemia. The incidence of hyperammonemia in patients who underwent DSRS with SPD plus GT was significantly lower than that in patients who underwent DSRS alone or those who underwent DSRS with SPD. In conclusion, there are various surgical treatments for esophagogastric varices. Distal splenorenal shunt with SPD plus GT is considered an adequate treatment for patients with esophagogastric varices.     

晚期血吸虫病门脉高压症外科治疗效果

分析潜江市二医院81例晚期血吸虫病门脉高压症患者的临床资料,其中44例行门奇断流术,37例行门奇断流术联合食管下段梯状环形缝扎黏膜下血管加胃底折叠术。结果表明,门奇断流术联合食管下段梯状环形缝扎黏膜下血管加胃底折叠术安全、有效,可作为治疗晚期血吸虫病门脉高压症的常规方法。     

Clinical analysis of surgical treatment of portal hypertension

AIM: To review the experience in surgery for 508 patients with portal hypertension and to explore the selection of reasonable operation under different conditions. METHODS: The data of 508 patients with portal hypertension treated surgically in 1991-2001 in our centers were analyzed. Of the 508 patients, 256 were treated with portaazygous devascularization (PAD), 167 with portasystemic shunt (PSS), 62 with selective shunt (SS), 11 with combined portasystemic shunt and portaazygous devascularization (PSS+PAD), 9 with liver transplantation (LT), 3 with union operation for hepatic carcinoma and portal hypertension (HCC+PH). RESULTS: In the 167 patents treated with PSS, free portal pressure (FPP) was significantly higher in the patients with a longer diameter of the anastomotic stoma than in those with a shorter diameter before the operation (P<0.01). After the operation, FPP in the former patients markedly decreased compared to the latter ones (P<0.01). The incidence rate of hemorrhage in patients treated with PAD, PSS, SS, PSS+PAD, and HCC+PH was 21.09% (54/256), 13.77 (23/167), 11.29 (7/62), 36.36% (4/11), and 100% (3/3), respectively. The incidence rate of hepatic encephalopathy was 3.91% (10/256), 9.58% (16/167), 4.84% (3/62), 9.09% (1/11), and 100% (3/3), respectively while the operative mortality was 5.49% (15/256), 4.22% (7/167), 4.84% (3/62), 9.09% (1/11), and 66.67% (2/3) respectively. The operative mortality of liver transplantation was 22.22% (2/9). CONCLUSION: Five kinds of operation in surgical treatment of portal hypertension have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, the selection of operation should be based on the actual needs of the patients.     

我国门静脉高压症外科治疗的现况和展望

门静脉高压症外科曾引领现代外科的发展。然而,在过去的10~20年里,筛查和控制食管胃曲张静脉破裂出血的药物、曲张静脉套扎和经颈静脉肝内门体分流术等非手术疗法获得广泛应用。手术治疗只适用于内镜疗法无效、肝功能Child-Pugh A级的患者。目前公认可取的3种手术是远端脾肾分流术、广泛的贲门周围离断术加脾切除术和二阶段经胸腹联合断流术。由于在中国供肝短缺,因此肝移植难以普及。腹腔镜脾切除以及腹腔镜脾切除联合贲门周围血管离断术对肝硬化门静脉高压症患者乃是重大挑战。认为外科治疗门静脉高压症应与非手术疗法合作,从而对肝硬化和非肝硬化门静脉高压症患者采取个体化治疗方案。     

Drug treatment for portal hypertension

Pharmacological treatment of portal hypertension has played an increasing clinical role in the past 20 years. In the setting of acute variceal bleeding, drug therapy should be considered the initial treatment of choice and can be administered as soon as possible; even during the transfer of the patient to hospital. Several recent trials have reported similar efficacy to emergency sclerotherapy, therefore drug treatment should no longer be considered as a "stop gap" therapy until definitive endoscopic therapy is performed but continued for several days. Antibiotic prophylaxis is an integral part of therapy as it reduces mortality and should be instituted from admission. Non selective b-blockers are the treatment of first choice for secondary and primary prevention. If they are contraindicated or non tolerated banding ligation can be used. There is less evidence for the benefit of ligation for primary prophylaxis. The use of haemodynamic targets for reduction in hepatic venous pressure gradient response need further study, and surrogate markers of pressure response need evaluation     

肝硬化门脉高压症内科治疗的选择与评价

心得安推荐作为预防Child A或B级肝硬化患者中-重度静脉曲张初次出血;生长抑素及其类似物为急性食管胃底静脉曲张出血(EVB)的首选药物,控制出血疗效85%-90%;心得安或联合5-单硝异山梨醇、内镜下套扎或硬化剂可作为预防静脉曲张再出血的方法;经颈静脉肝内门腔分流术(TIPS)仅为Child B或C级患者准备肝脏移植的过度.内科联合治疗方法的评价需要循症医学的证据,轻度静脉曲张及早期门脉高压的治疗策略仍需要进一步研究.     

腹腔镜手术治疗血吸虫病肝纤维化门静脉高压合并胆囊结石

目的 目的 观察腹腔镜胆囊切除术 （LC） 治疗血吸虫病肝纤维化门静脉高压综合征 （门脉高压症） 合并胆囊结石的疗 效。方法 方法 分析2006年6月-2013年6月采用LC治疗的196例血吸虫病肝纤维化门脉高压症合并胆囊结石患者的临床资 料。结果 结果 本组血吸虫病肝纤维化门脉高压症合并慢性结石性胆囊炎154例, 合并急性结石性胆囊炎42例, Child A级160 例, B级36例。189例完成LC; 7例中转开腹, 其中腹腔、 胆囊周围黏连及胆囊三角解剖不清3例, 术中出血, 镜下止血困难4 例。196例全部治愈。结论 结论 LC治疗血吸虫病肝纤维化门脉高压症合并胆囊结石疗效良好。     

Evaluation of surgical procedure selection based on intraoperative free portal pressure measurement in patients with portal hypertension

BACKGROUND:Various surgical procedures can be used to treat liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.How to select the most appropriate procedure for patients with portal hypertension has become a difficult problem.This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the value of intraoperative free portal pressure(FPP)and postoperative complications,and to explore the significance of intraoperative FPP measurement with respect to surgical procedure selection.METHODS:The clinical data of 187 patients with portal hypertension who received pericardial devascularization and proximal splenorenal shunt combined with devascularization(combined operation)at the Department of General Surgery in our hospital from January 2001 to September 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.Among the patients who received pericardial devascularization,those with a postoperative FPP ≥22 mmHg were included in a high-pressure group(n=68), and those with FPP22 mmHg were in a low-pressure group(n=49).Seventy patients who received the combined operation comprised a combined group.The intraoperative FPP measurement changes at different times,and the incidence of postoperative complications in the three groups of patients were compared.RESULTS:The postoperative FPP value in the high-pressure group was 27.5±2.3 mmHg,which was significantly higher than that of the low-pressure(20.9±1.8 mmHg)or combined groups(21.7±2.5 mmHg).The rebleeding rate in the high-pressure group was significantly higher than that in the low-pressure and combined groups.The incidence rates of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy and liver failure were not statistically different among the three groups.The mortality due to rebleeding in the low-pressure and combined groups(0.84%) was significantly lower than that of the high-pressure group.CONCLUSIONS:The study demonstrates that FPP is a critical measurement for surgical procedure selection in patients with portal hypertension.A FPP value≥22 mmHg after splenectomy and devascularization alone is an important indicator that an additional proximal splenorenal shunt needs to be performed.     

Medical treatment of portal hypertension

In this chapter we give a quick review of the rationale for treatment of portal hypertension. The different scenarios for treatment of variceal bleeding will be discussed-that is, primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding as well as the treatment of the acute bleeding episode. The role of the pharmacological, endoscopic and derivative treatments in each one of these scenarios will be discussed. Particular attention will be devoted to the potential role of the combination therapy of beta-blockers with isosorbide-5-mononitrate for preventing re-bleeding and to the best approach to patients with intolerance or contraindications to beta-blockers. We also give a rational review of the data comparing sclerotherapy against ligation as well as the potential role of the latter on primary prophylaxis.     

Surgical treatment of portal hypertension

Portal hypertension is a common disease with high mortality and serious influence on the life quality of patients. At present, shunt and disconnection are commonly used for the treatment of portal hypertension. In recent years, combined procedures of shunt and disconnection have evoked the potential interest of surgeons. Initial experimental studies and clinical observations showed that the combined procedures are ideal for treating portal hypertension. Transjugular intrahepatic portacaval shunt (TIPS) is a new minimally invasive technique in treating portal hypertension. Some surgeons have tried to perform disconnection under laparoscopy with success. Liver transplantation will be the focus of portal hypertension surgery in the future.     

Severe portal hypertension secondary to arterio-portal fistula: salvage surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Arterio-portal fistulas (APFs) are rare vascular disorders of various origins that can lead to severe portal hypertension. Even if surgery was initially the treatment of choice, more recently, interventional radiological procedures have been considered as the first line therapeutic option. CASE REPORT: A man with no history of liver disease was admitted for abdominal pain and distension. Abdominal ultrasonography with Doppler, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) scan showed ascites, splenomegaly and a probable APF between the left branches of both the hepatic artery and portal vein, associated with hepatofugal portal flow. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed large oesophageal varices without bleeding. A celiac and mesenteric arteriography and a splenic arteriography were performed and confirmed the existence of multiple intrahepatic APFs. The initial treatment consisted of two sessions of percutaneous transcatheter endovascular embolization. Unfortunately, ascites worsened, and the patient did not respond to diuretic treatment. Therefore, a surgical treatment was considered to be the only suitable treatment because of the absence of improvement after embolization procedures. A left hepatectomy with hepatic artery ligation was performed. Clinical evolution was favourable; an improvement of ascites was obtained; control ultrasonography and CT scan disclosed no residual haemodynamic abnormality; and the portal vein was normal with a hepatopedal flow. Currently, 12 months after surgery, the clinical condition of the patient is good. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous treatment of portal hypertension by embolizing multiple large APF has been described to be an effective method. Nevertheless, failure of such conservative treatment is possible and must lead to a salvage surgery.     

Surgical treatment of portal hypertension

The surgical treatment of portal hypertension has laxed and waned over the past century. Decompressive shunts for variceal bleeding hit their peak in the 1970s, but dissatisfaction with encephalopathy and liver failure led to further developments with selective shunts and devascularization procedures in the 1970s and early 1980s. Liver transplant is the major operative intervention currently in use and of advantage to patients with portal hypertension. The role of the surgeon is as part of the team involved in the full evaluation of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension with its complications. The current repertoire of surgical options includes decompressive shunts, either total, partial or selective, devascularization procedures and liver transplantation. These options must be fitted into the overall management schema of pharmacologic and endoscopic therapy as the first-line approaches to managing these patients.     

Medical treatment of portal hypertension

Prevention of the first variceal haemorrhage should start when the patients have developed medium sized to large varices. Non-selective beta-blockers are the first-line treatment; band ligation is roughly equivalent to beta-blockers and is the first choice for patients with contraindications or intolerance to beta-blockers. Treatment of acute bleeding should aim at controlling bleeding and preventing early rebleeding and complications, especially infections. Combined endoscopic and pharmacological treatment with vasoactive drugs can control bleeding in up to 90% of patients. All patients who survive a variceal bleed should be treated with beta-blockers or band ligation to prevent rebleeding. All patients in whom bleeding cannot be controlled or who continue to rebleed can be treated with salvage TIPS or, in selected cases, with surgical shunts. Liver transplantation should be considered for patients with severe liver insufficiency in which first-line treatments fail.