Beneficial Effect of Partial Portal Decompression Using the Inferior Mesenteric Vein for Intractable Gastroesophageal Variceal Bleeding in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: Use of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) for partial portal decompression has not been recommended as a first-line option for intractable gastroesophageal variceal bleeding because of the thin diameter of the vein. Although these indications remain relevant, few reports have compared partial portal decompression using the IMV with other therapies. We propose that partial portal decompression using the IMV is a useful alternative treatment for intractable variceal bleeding. METHODS: We performed partial portal decompression using the IMV in eight patients with intractable variceal bleeding that had been uncontrolled using medical and endoscopic therapies. All patients were classified into Child's class B or C. The surgical data, morbidity, and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Mean portal venous pressure significantly decreased from 26.9 +/- 2.0 mmHg before the surgery to 19.8 +/- 3.9 mmHg after the surgery. The operative mortality rate was 0%. The mean duration of hospital stay was 25.5 +/- 13.3 days. Although one patient experienced recurrent bleeding, shunt patency was well maintained in all patients during the follow-up period (mean 28.9 +/- 14.1 months). Six patients are still alive and well without ascites or hepatic encephalopathy. Two of the Child's class C patients who underwent emergency shunt died owing to hepatic decompensation. CONCLUSION: Partial portal decompression using the IMV can be a safe, effective way to treat intractable variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, use of the shunt procedure may have the most survival benefits for cirrhotic patients with preserved liver function.     

肝硬化门静脉高压症食管胃底曲张静脉破裂出血医院内死亡原因分析

摘要：目的:探讨肝硬化门静脉高压症食管胃底曲张静脉破裂出血患者住院期间的死亡原因。方法:对近 3年收治的186例患者及在住院期内死亡的24例患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果:186中择期手术130例，3例（2.31 %）因术后肝衰竭或其他并发症死亡；急诊手术28例，术后因肝衰竭或其他并发症死亡5例（17.86 %）；未行手术治疗28例，16例死亡，其中12例死于出血无法控制。结论:大出血非手术治疗无法控制而又未及时手术是导致肝硬化门静脉高压症食管胃底曲张静脉破裂出血患者最重要的医院内死亡原因，对此类患者及时采取急诊手术对降低门静脉高压症大出血患者的病死率具有重要意义。     

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目的 探讨经皮穿肝及穿脾治疗门静脉高压胃食管曲张静脉破裂出血的可行性和疗效。方法 对19例病人行经皮穿肝胃冠状静脉栓塞术,对12例病人行经皮穿脾胃冠状静脉栓塞术。结果 所有病人手术成功。随访3－26个月,再出血3例,其中6个月内再出血1例;死亡6例,其中1例死亡原因为上消化道出血,5例为肝功能衰竭。结论 该手术是治疗门静脉高压胃底食管曲张静脉破裂出血的有效方法。对于肝占位病变及门静脉癌全等不宜行经皮穿肝门静脉插管的病人,经皮穿脾门静脉插管可作为一种安全的替代方法。     

The significance of sinistral portal hypertension complicating chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Sinistral portal hypertension, a localized (left-sided) form of portal hypertension may complicate chronic pancreatitis as a result of splenic vein thrombosis/obstruction. AIM:To determine appropriate surgical strategy for patients with splenic vein thrombosis/obstruction secondary to chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with operative management of 484 consecutive patients with histologically documented chronic pancreatitis treated between 1976 and 1997. The diagnosis of sinistral portal hypertension was based on clinical presentation, preoperative endoscopic and radiographic imaging, and operative findings. "Symptomatic," herein defined, denotes those patients with sinistral hypertension and either gastrointestinal bleeding or hypersplenism. "Asymptomatic" patients were those with sinistral hypertension alone. RESULTS: Sinistral portal hypertension was present in 34 of the 484 patients (7%). Gastric or gastroesophageal varices were confirmed in 12 patients (35%), of whom 6 had variceal bleeding and 4 had hypersplenism (25%). All symptomatic patients were treated by splenectomy alone or in conjunction with distal pancreatectomy. Splenectomy at the time of pancreatectomy for primary pancreatic symptoms was also performed in 15 patients with (asymptomatic) sinistral portal hypertension. None of the 23 patients who had splenectomy rebled in mean follow-up of 4.8 years. In contrast, 1 of the 11 patients with asymptomatic sinistral portal hypertension who underwent pancreatic surgery without splenectomy died of later variceal bleeding 3 years after lateral pancreatojejunostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic sinistral portal hypertension is best treated by splenectomy. Concomitant splenectomy should be strongly considered in patients undergoing operative treatment of symptomatic chronic pancreatitis if sinistral portal hypertension and gastroesophageal varices are also present.     

选择性贲门周围血管离断术对治疗门静脉高压症的临床价值评估

目的　探讨选择性贲门周围血管离断术对门静脉高压症治疗的价值。方法　自2002 年1月～2004年3月,我院用选择性贲门周围血管离断术共治疗门静脉高压症47例,以104例经典 的贲门周围血管离断术作为对照组。测量病人手术前、切脾后、手术后自由门静脉压力,入院时、手术 后2周的门静脉血流量,观察术后复发出血、肝性脑病、门静脉高压性胃病发生率,腹水、食管胃底静 脉曲张改善程度以及成活情况。结果　选择性贲门周围血管离断术后病人复发性出血、门静脉高压 性胃病发生率明显减低(P<0.05),腹水、食管胃底曲张程度改善(P<0.05),自由门静脉压和门静脉 血流量明显下降(P<0.01),但不增加肝性脑病发生率(P>0.05)。结论　选择性贲门周围血管离断 术保留了机体自发性的分流,兼有分流术和断流术的优点,是一种较合理的手术方式。     

Arterioportal fistulas (APF) in liver tumors: prognosis in relation to treatment.

Prognosis of 16 patients with hepatic tumors and angiographically proven arterioportal fistulas was analysed in relation to treatment. Six patients received only conservative therapy; they all died of variceal bleeding in the course of two months after angiography. Hepatic resection was performed in four patients; three of them are still alive 13-52 months later including two free of both the tumor and portal hypertension. Hepatic artery embolization was carried out in six patients. All of them died in 2-36 months after the procedure, but only two from gastroesophageal hemorrhage. It is concluded that prognosis of arterioportal fistulae in liver neoplasms is poor due to hyperkinetic portal hypertension and following variceal bleeding. Hepatic resection of both the tumor and the fistula is the treatment of choice. In unresectable cases hepatic artery embolization will decrease the risk of variceal hemorrhage.     

门脉高压症上消化道大出血急诊手术治疗体会

目的探讨门脉高压症食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血急诊手术时机和疗效。方法2002年1月~2007年4月48例肝硬化门脉高压症上消化道大出血患者行急诊选择性贲门周围血管离断,其中18例加行改良Sugiura术。结果45例获随访,平均18(3~24)个月,无术后死亡,无吻合口瘘和肝性脑病,无术后再出血的发生。结论选择性贲门周围血管离断和条件允许情况下的改良Sugiura术能有效地治疗门脉高压症食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血,降低术后再出血率和并发症发生率。     

Graft interposition splenocaval shunt for total or selective decompression of portal hypertension

A new operation for selective or total decompression of the portal venous system in cases of intrahepatic portal hypertension is described. It involves interposition of a large-caliber Dacron graft between the splenic vein and the inferior vena cava. The graft-interposition splenocaval shunt is performed readily and quickly, satisfying the variable hemodynamic needs of patients with portal hypertension. It can be either selective (S-SCS) or total (T-SCS) from the beginning, or a T-SCS may be converted subsequently to a S-SCS should surgically induced hepatic decompensation supervene. It is less demanding technically than distal splenorenal shunt (D-SRS). The S-SCS conserves portal venous perfusion of the liver, preserves hepatocellular function and architecture at the preoperative levels, avoids precipitation of postshunt portal-systemic encephalopathy, and decompresses gastric-esophageal varices with prevention of further variceal bleeding even better than D-SRS. One hundred percent graft patency has been obtained, and the surgical results have been superior to those following portacaval shunt in patients with large liver blood flow and relative benignity of the liver disease, be it cirrhosis or noncirrhotic portal fibrosis. In patients with advanced cirrhosis, variceal bleeding, and small liver blood flows, T-SCS would be indicated. Patients of this category obtained inferior surgical results and had operative deaths (16.7%) following S-SCS. The concept of the operation has merits and deserves further evaluation.     

改良Walker′s术治疗门静脉高压症术后再出血的体会

目的回顾评价改良的经胸食管横断术（改良Walker＇s术）方式治疗门静脉高压症术后再出血的效果。方法根据Sugiura术的血液动力学原理,将经胸食管横断术进行改良（改良Walker＇s术）,在食管下段较低位置阻断食管静脉血流的同时,离断腹段残留或复发的冠状静脉属支。结果本组共52例,择期手术48例,无手术死亡;急症手术4例,1例死于肝功能衰竭。本组中5例失访,有45例获得长期随访,结果在术后1年5个月因肝功能衰竭死亡1例,术后2～3年2例死于肝癌;术后4～5年3例因肝功能衰竭、肝肾综合症死亡;存活5年以上者有39例,5年生存率75%（9/52）。有1例患者已经再手术后生存23年。结论改良Walker＇s术适用于门静脉高压症术后再出血患者,该手术简单易掌握、止血可靠,近期、远期效果良好。     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): an experience with treatment of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

TIPS procedures have been successfully performed in 18 of 21 patients aged 34-64 (mean age 40 years) with cirrhosis of the liver with acute gastroesophageal bleedings (5) or history of bleeding episodes from gastroesophageal varices (13). The patients were classified according to Child (1964): A--4; B--8 and C--6. The portal pressure before creation of the shunt measured 17-39 (mean 28.1 +/- 7.6) mm Hg. Dilation of the hepatic tissue was performed by a balloon 10 mm in diameter and 4-6 cm long with placement of metallic endoprostheses 10-12 mm in diameter and 80 mm long. The portal pressure after anastomoses were made dropped to 6-28 (mean 20.3 +/- 5.7) mm Hg. The angiogram showed a rapid flow of the contrast medium through the portocaval anastomosis towards the right heart and no filling of the esophageal veins was seen. TIPS procedure is an effective measure to stop variceal gastroesophageal bleeding in patients with portal hypertension. The necessity of regular surveillance and reinterventions makes this approach a temporary measure to reduce hazardous consequences of gastroesophageal hemorrhages.     

Current indication of a modified Sugiura procedure in the management of variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND: The role of gastroesophageal devascularization (Sugiura-rype procedures) for the treatment of variceal bleeding remains controversial. Although Japanese series reported favorable longterm results, the technique has nor been widely accepted in the Western Hemisphere because of a high postoperative morbidity and mortality. The reasons for the different outcomes are unclear. In a multidisciplinary team approach we developed a therapeutic algorithm for patients with recurrent variceal bleeding. STUDY DESIGN: The Sugiura procedure was offered only to patients with well-preserved liver function (Child A or Child B cirrhosis without chronic ascites) who were not candidates for distal splenorenal shunt, transhepatic porto-systemic shunt, or liver transplantation. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with recurrent variceal bleeding underwent a modified Sugiura procedure between September 1994 and September 1997. All but one patient (operative mortality 7%) are alive after a median followup of 4 years. Recurrent variceal bleeding developed in one patient; esophageal strictures, which were successfully treated by endoscopic dilatation, developed in three patients; and one patient experienced mild encephalopathy. Major complications were noted only in patients with impaired liver function (Child B cirrhosis) or when the modified Sugiura was performed in an emergency setting. The presence of cirrhosis or the cause of portal hypertension had no significant impact on the complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: This series was performed during the last decade when all modern therapeutic options for variceal bleeding were available. Our results indicate that the modified Sugiura procedure is an effective rescue therapy in patients who are not candidates for selective shunts, transhepatic porto-systemic shunt, or transplantation. Emergency settings and decreased liver function are associated with an increased morbidity.     

血管闭合系统在贲门周围血管离断术中的应用价值

目的探讨LigaSureTM血管闭合系统(LigaSureTMvesselsealingsystem,LVSS)在贲门周围血管离断术中的应用价值。方法对34例肝硬化门静脉高压症合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血患者分别采用单纯贲门周围血管断离术(单纯断流组,18例)和LVSS(LVSS组,16例)的临床资料进行回顾性对比分析。结果单纯断流组术中失血量平均220ml,手术时间平均129min;LVSS组术中失血量平均120ml,手术时间平均98min;两组比较差异有显著性意义,P均<0.01。单纯断流组术后有13例患者出现并发症(膈下感染、反应性胸腔积液、肝功能衰竭、术后近期再出血),1例死亡;LVSS组仅2例出现反应性胸腔积液。结论LVSS止血确切,操作方便,可有效减少术中失血,缩短手术时间,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

The Linton splenorenal shunt in the management of the bleeding complications of portal hypertension.

This report describes 140 cases in which Linton splenorenal shunts were performed for the management of the complications of portal hypertension by a large number of surgeons in a single hospital. There was a history of variceal bleeding in 130. Using the Childs designation to reflect hepatic functional reserve, the overall operative mortality was 12% (3 for A; 6 for B; 26 for C). Five-year survival was 41% (57 for A; 35 for B; 26 for C). Subsequent variceal bleeding was noted in 10% of survivors; hepatic encephalopathy in 19%; and terminal liver failure in 18%. Classification and results are reported in a form that should facilitate comparison with other methods of management.     

Orthotopic liver transplantation: nonoperative management of early, acute portal vein thrombosis

We report a case of acute portal vein thrombosis that occurred 1 week after orthotopic liver transplantation in a patient with sclerosing cholangitis. Unlike other patients reported in the literature who were first seen with variceal bleeding or acute hepatic failure, this patient initially had mild clinical signs, consisting of an abnormal prothrombin time, an increase in liver function test values, and enlarging but nonbleeding gastroesophageal varices. Whereas patients with more extreme symptoms often die or require retransplantation, this patient was managed nonoperatively. Spontaneous lysis of the portal vein thrombus occurred over the ensuing 2 weeks. The diagnosis and management of this milder form of early, acute portal vein thrombosis are discussed.     

Sugiura procedure outside Japan. The Mexican experience

In the last 10 years, we operated on 231 patients with hemorrhagic portal hypertension. Most of these patients had some form of liver disease. We performed various surgical procedures: 47 conventional shunts with H grafts and terminolateral portacaval shunts with arterialization of the portal stump, 139 selective Warren shunts, and in those patients in whom a selective portasystemic shunt could not be performed for technical reasons, esophagogastric devascularization in the form of the Sugiura procedure. Forty-five patients were treated with the Sugiura procedure as a one stage or two stage procedure. A total of 68 emergency and elective operations were performed. The operative mortality rate for the emergency thoracic operation was 41 percent and for the abdominal operation, 42 percent. The overall operative mortality rate in the emergency group was 41 percent. The incidence of recurrent variceal bleeding and encephalopathy was 0 in the surviving patients. The survival rate at 3 year follow-up was 40 percent. The elective group was made up of 24 patients. Eighteen patients had a two stage procedure and 6 patients had a one stage procedure. The operative mortality rate for the abdominal operation was 11 percent, whereas that for the thoracic operation was 7 percent. The operative mortality rate for the one stage procedure was 16 percent. The overall operative mortality rate in the elective group was 10.8 percent. None of these patients had recurrent variceal bleeding and encephalopathy developed in only one (5 percent). The encephalopathy was easily controlled with medical treatment. The 3 year survival rate was 83 percent. We conclude that the Sugiura procedure is an effective procedure to treat hemorrhagic portal hypertension when a selective shunt cannot be performed.     

Surgical treatment of portal hypertension

A switch to decompressive shunt procedures is mandatory if endoscopic therapy fails to control recurrent variceal hemorrhage. Surgical shunt procedures continue to be safe, highly effective and durable procedures to control variceal bleeding in patients with low operative risk and good liver function (Child A). In cirrhotics, elective operations using portal flow preserving techniques such as a selective distal splenorenal shunt (Warren) or a partial portocaval small diameter interposition shunt (Sarfeh) should be preferred. Rarely, end-to-side portocaval shunt may serve as a salvage procedure if emergent endoscopic treatment or TIPS insertion fail to stop bleeding. Until definitive results from randomized trials are available patients with good prognosis (Child-Pugh A and B) can be regarded as candidates for surgical shunts. For patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension, in particular with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, portosystemic shunt surgery represents the only effective therapy which leads to freedom of recurrent bleeding and repeated endoscopies for many years, and improves hypersplenism without deteriorating liver function or encephalopathy. Gastroesophageal devascularization and other direct variceal ablative procedures should be restricted to treat endoscopic therapy failures without shuntable portal tributaries.     

Current state of portosystemic shunt surgery

BACKGROUND: A switch to decompressive shunt procedures is mandatory if endoscopic therapy fails to control recurrent variceal hemorrhage. Surgical shunt procedures continue to be safe, highly effective, and durable procedures to treat variceal bleeding in patients with low operative risk and good liver function. DISCUSSION: In cirrhotics, elective operations using portal flow preserving techniques such as a selective distal splenorenal shunt (Warren) and a partial portocaval small diameter interposition shunt (Sarfeh) should be preferred. Rarely, end-to-side portocaval shunt may serve as a salvage procedure if emergency endoscopic treatment or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion fails to stop bleeding. Until definitive results from randomized trials are available patients with good prognosis (Child-Pugh A and B) should be regarded as candidates for surgical shunts. For patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension, in particular with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, portosystemic shunt surgery represents the only effective therapy which leads to freedom of recurrent bleeding and repeated endoscopies for many years, and improves hypersplenism without deteriorating liver function or encephalopathy. Gastroesophageal devascularization and other direct variceal ablative procedures should be restricted to treat endoscopic therapy failures without shuntable portal tributaries.     

急诊手术治疗门静脉高压症并上消化道大出血手术疗效评价

目的探讨急诊手术在治疗门静脉高压症并上消化道大出血中的效果和意义。方法对我院近5年内151例门静脉高压症并上消化道大出血患者行急诊手术的疗效和并发症发生率进行回顾性研究,其中肝功能ChildA级72例,B级58例,C级21例。结果总体出血有效控制率95.3%,断流术死亡率为7.7%(10/130),死亡的主要原因为腹腔内出血、上消化道出血和肝肾综合征,分流术死亡率为38.1%(8/21),死亡的主要原因为肝肾功能衰竭。术后1年生存率为97.7%,3年生存率为94.2%,5年生存率为86.8%。术后1年再出血率为1.5%(2/133),3年再出血率为5.7%(4/70),5年再出血率为7.9%。结论在当今条件下贲门周围血管离断术仍是挽救门静脉高压症并发不可内科控制的上消化道大出血患者生命的主要急诊手段,肝内型门静脉高压急诊手术最好不选择分流手术。     

系-腔分流术治疗门静脉高压症术后再出血的临床研究

目的探讨系-腔C形、H形架桥术对门脉高压症再出血的临床疗效及肠系膜上静脉外科干解剖变异时的临床处理.方法总结2002年1月至2004年8月36例门脉高压症术后再出血病例资料,其中脾切除、断流术后再出血21例,近端脾肾分流术后再出血9例,远端脾肾分流术后再出血4例,近端脾肾分流术＋断流术后2例;再出血后行系-腔C形架桥术18例,系-腔H形架桥术12例,肠系膜上静脉外科干解剖变异改行肠系膜下静脉-下腔静脉分流术4例,改行冠腔分流术2例.通过术中测压、术后B超测定吻合口血流量以及胃镜、肝功能随访评价系-腔分流术临床疗效.结果术后门脉降压明显,随访6个月至3年,吻合口通畅,胃底静脉曲张减轻,无一例再出血,无严重并发症,无一例死亡.结论系-腔分流术能有效的治疗门脉高压症术后再出血,其中C形架桥术降压效果最明显;当肠系膜上静脉外科干解剖变异时,应及时选择其它分流方法.     

The emergency portacaval H graft in alcoholic cirrhotic patients: influence of shunt diameter on clinical outcome

Emergency partial portal decompression was achieved with 8 or 10 mm portacaval H graft shunts combined with aggressive collateral ligation in 18 patients in whom bleeding esophageal varices could not be controlled medically. They were compared with 11 similar risk patients undergoing larger diameter portacaval H graft shunts (12 to 14 mm) for the same indications. Variables studied included 90 day operative mortality, hepatic encephalopathy rates, corrected portal pressure, and variceal re-bleeding. Operative mortality was similar in both groups and correlated strongly with Child's class. However, the incidence of portasystemic encephalopathy in survivors was significantly lower after partial decompression than after total decompression. No patient in either group rebled from varices. We conclude from our series of high risk alcoholic cirrhotic patients, that although mortality after partial and total portal decompression is similar, the lower incidence of encephalopathy in survivors suggests that partial decompression has advantages over total decompression when emergency control of variceal bleeding is necessary.