ABSTRACT
Objective To study the changes of portal vein pressure before and after interventional embolization with α-cyanoacrylate alkyl and their clinical significance. Methods Thirty five patients with esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding were included. Esophageal-gastric fundal varices were embolized with e-cyanoacrylate alkyl in 35 patients, and 10 of them were treated with combination of partial splenic emblization. Portal pressure was measured directly before and after interventional embolization. The patients were followed up for 3-18 months. The changes of the liver functions and complications after the embolization were observed. Results All bleeding were controlled successfully. The main portal pressure in those who received variceal embolization only increased significantly from (32.54±5.23) cm H2O (1 cm H2O=0. 098 kPa) to (37.45±5. 11) cm H2O; superior mesenteric vein pressure increased from (31.46±4.35) cmH2O to (34.33±4.68)cm H2O; and the level of serum albumin raised from (30.45±5.78) g/L to (34.57±6.84) g/L 3 weeks after embolization. Whereas the main portal pressure in those who received both variceal and partial splenic embolizations, decreased significantly from (32. 68±4. 89) cm H2O to (28. 70±4. 58) cm H2O; superior mesenteric vein pressure decreased from (31.46±4.35) cm H2O to (28.03±4.12) cm H2O; and splenic vein pressure decreased from (32.89±4.79) cm H2O to (28.81±5. 12) cm H2O.Conclusions Esophageal-gastric variceal embolization is effective for varieeal bleeding. The increase of main portal pressure after embolization may be benefit for liver function, while the rise of superior mesenteric vein pressure may increase the risk of portal hypertensive gastrointestinal re-bleeding.Esophageal-gastric variceal embolization combined with partial splenic embolization may reduce the incidence of portal hypertension and gastrointestinal re-bleeding, but will increase the risk of ascites.