Effect of proximal splenic vein ligation on prevention of portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy for portal hypertension / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the preventive effect of proximal splenic vein ligation after splenectomy on the splenic vein originated portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in portal hypertension.Methods:The clinical data of 94 patients of portal hypertension who had received splenectomy were retrospectively analysed. The proximal splenic vein was ligated in 36 cases during pericardial devascularization and coronary renal shunt with splenectomy. The other 58 cases who had received pericardial devascularization without proximal splenic vein ligation served as control. All of the patients in both groups were given heparin infusion postoperatively through the catheter which was placed in the right gastroepiploic vein during operation. CT portal veinography was performed at the 7th-14th postoperative day for detection of PVT.Results:None of the PVT occurred in the splenic vein ligation group. In the control group, PVT occurred in 22 cases(38%) and splenic vein thrombosis occurred in all the 58 cases (100%). PVT incidence between the two groups is significantly different (0 vs. 38%, χ 2=17.828, P<0.05). Conclusions:Ligation of the proximal splenic vein during splenectomy can effectively prevent the postoperative splenic vein originated PVT in portal hypertension.