Portal vein aneurysm after liver transplantation: report of two cases and literature review / 器官移植

Objective To summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience of portal vein aneurysm after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of two recipients with portal vein aneurysm after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were summarized based on literature review. Results Both two cases were diagnosed with intrahepatic portal vein aneurysm complicated with portal vein thrombosis and portal hypertension after liver transplantation. Case 1 was given with targeted conservative treatment and he refused to undergo liver retransplantation. Physical condition was worsened after discharge, and the patient eventually died from liver graft failure, kidney failure, lung infection, and septic shock. Case 2 received high-dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy, whereas liver function was not improved, and the patient was recovered successfully after secondary liver transplantation. Conclusions Long-term complication of portal vein aneurysm (especially intrahepatic type) after liver transplantation probably indicates poor prognosis. Correct understanding, intimate follow-up and active treatment should be conducted. Liver retransplantation may be a potential treatment regimen.

Mesocaval Shunt Creation for Jejunal Variceal Bleeding with Chronic Portal Vein Thrombosis

The creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a widely performed technique to relieve portal hypertension, and to manage recurrent variceal bleeding and refractory ascites in patients where medical and/or endoscopic treatments have failed. However, portosystemic shunt creation can be challenging in the presence of chronic portal vein occlusion. In this case report, we describe a minimally invasive endovascular mesocaval shunt creation with transsplenic approach for the management of recurrent variceal bleeding in a portal hypertension patient with intra- and extrahepatic portal vein occlusion.

Research updates on surgical treatments for portal hvpertension / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Portal hypertension is a common clinical syndrome in chronic liver disease,such as schistosomiasis,portal vein occlusion cirrhosis and so on,which can be diagnosed when the hepatic venous pressure gradient is (HVPG) ＞ 5 mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa).It could lead to gastroesophageal varicose veins rupture,ascites,spontaneous bacterial peritonitis,hepatorenal syndrome,hepatopulmonary syndrome,hepatic encephalopathy and some other serious complications,and is the primary death cause in cirrhosis and liver transplantation.The development of portal hypertension has experienced 4 phases ineluding the research about portal hypertension related theories and animal trial phase,preclinical tests and data accumulation phase,devascularization and shunts rapid development phase,the development phase of new technologies such as interventional and endoscopic surgical treatment,liver transplantation since the middle of the 19th century.The surgical procedures have been modified,which greatly reduce the complication and improve the life quality after operation.But so far none of them can cure portal hypertension thoroughly.This paper not only introduces the pathophysiologic basis of the surgical treatment,but also reviews the history of its development to summarize the recent progress,which may facilitate its surgical treatment.

Research updates on surgical treatments for portal hvpertension / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Portal hypertension is a common clinical syndrome in chronic liver disease,such as schistosomiasis,portal vein occlusion cirrhosis and so on,which can be diagnosed when the hepatic venous pressure gradient is (HVPG) ＞ 5 mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa).It could lead to gastroesophageal varicose veins rupture,ascites,spontaneous bacterial peritonitis,hepatorenal syndrome,hepatopulmonary syndrome,hepatic encephalopathy and some other serious complications,and is the primary death cause in cirrhosis and liver transplantation.The development of portal hypertension has experienced 4 phases ineluding the research about portal hypertension related theories and animal trial phase,preclinical tests and data accumulation phase,devascularization and shunts rapid development phase,the development phase of new technologies such as interventional and endoscopic surgical treatment,liver transplantation since the middle of the 19th century.The surgical procedures have been modified,which greatly reduce the complication and improve the life quality after operation.But so far none of them can cure portal hypertension thoroughly.This paper not only introduces the pathophysiologic basis of the surgical treatment,but also reviews the history of its development to summarize the recent progress,which may facilitate its surgical treatment.

Prediction of Mortality after Emergent Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement: Use of APACHE II, Child-Pugh and MELD Scores in Asian Patients with Refractory Variceal Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine if existing methods of grading liver function that have been developed in non-Asian patients with cirrhosis can be used to predict mortality in Asian patients treated for refractory variceal hemorrhage by the use of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data for 107 consecutive patients who underwent an emergency TIPS procedure were retrospectively analyzed. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II), Child-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores were calculated. Survival analyses were performed to evaluate the ability of the various models to predict 30-day, 60-day and 360-day mortality. The ability of stratified APACHE II, Child-Pugh, and MELD scores to predict survival was assessed by the use of Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test. RESULTS: No patient died during the TIPS procedure, but 82 patients died during the follow-up period. Thirty patients died within 30 days after the TIPS procedure; 37 patients died within 60 days and 53 patients died within 360 days. Univariate analysis indicated that hepatorenal syndrome, use of inotropic agents and mechanical ventilation were associated with elevated 30-day mortality (p 11 or an MELD score > 20 predicted increased risk of death at 30, 60 and 360 days (p 11 or an MELD score > 20 are predictive of mortality in Asian patients with refractory variceal hemorrhage treated with the TIPS procedure. An APACHE II score is not predictive of early mortality in this patient population.

Várices esofagogástricas / Gastro-esophageal varices

La hipertensión portal en el paciente cirrótico condiciona no solamente una serie de cambios fisiológicos, humorales y hemodinámicos, sino tambien fenómenos mecánicos asociados a la arquitectura hepática rígida y nodular. La formación de circulación colateral particularmente en la submucosa del esófago distal, conocida como várices esofágicas es una complicación común, cuya importancia radica en la altísima mortalidad asociada a su ruptura. El grado de prominencia de la várice y su probabilidad de ruptura correlacionan con el estadío clínico de la cirrosis. Se cuenta en la actualidad con fármacos eficaces en el escenario de una hemorragia aguda por várices, conjuntamente con técnicas de hemostasia endoscópica como la escleroterapia o endoligadura o derivaciones portosistémicas radiológicas (TIPS) como modalidad de rescate. Por otro lado, la probabilidad de prevenir el primer sangrado o el resangrado del paciente que ya tuvo la primera hemorragia (profilaxis primaria y secundaria respectivamente) son de sumo interés para el médico que se enfrenta al paciente cirrótico. Estos temas serán revisados extensamente en este artículo.

Portal hypertension in the cirrhotic patient is associated not only to physiologic, humoral and hemodynamic changes, but also with mechanical phenomena associated to the rigid and nodular liver architecture. The formation of collateral circulation particularly in the submucosa of the distal esophagus, known as esophageal varices is a common complication, and its importance relies on the very high mortality associated with its rupture. The degree of variceal prominence and the probability of rupture correlates with the clinical stage of cirrhosis. Currently we count with efficacious drugs in the scenario of an acute variceal hemorrhage, along with endoscopic hemostatic techniques like sclerotherapy and variceal ligation or radiologically placed portosystemic shunts (TIPS) as a rescue modality. On the other hand, the probability of preventing the first bleeding or the rebleeding in the patient who already had a first hemorrhage (primary and secondary prophylaxis respectively) are of extreme interest for the physician caring for a cirrhotic patient. This article extensively reviews those important issues.

A Case of Successful Treatment of Stomal Variceal Bleeding with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt and Coil Embolization

Variceal bleeding from enterostomy site is an unusual complication of portal hypertension. The bleeding, however, is often recurrent and may be fatal. The hemorrhage can be managed with local measures in most patients, but when these fail, surgical interventions or portosystemic shunt may be required. Herein, we report a case in which recurrent bleeding from stomal varices, developed after a colectomy for rectal cancer, was successfully treated by placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with coil embolization. Although several treatment options are available for this entity, we consider that TIPS with coil embolization offers minimally invasive and definitive treatment.