Does auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation reverse hypersplenism and portal hypertension?
In this study, performed to assess the effect of auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation on portal hypertension and hypersplenism, eight patients with chronic liver disease who underwent the procedure and had functioning grafts for at least 6 months were analyzed. The transplantation resulted in (a) normalization of platelet and leukocyte counts, (b) reduction of splenomegaly by 20% +/- 3% (P less than 0.02), (c) disappearance of ascites, and (d) diminution of esophageal varices in all patients. Intraoperatively, the mean portacaval pressure gradient decreased with 54% +/- 7% after recirculation of the graft (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, a functioning auxiliary heterotopic liver graft decompresses portal hypertension and reverses hypersplenism.
Borel Rinkes
I H
IH
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Van der Hoop
A G
AG
Hesselink
E J
EJ
Metselaar
H
H
De Rave
S
S
Zonderland
H M
HM
Schalm
S W
SW
Terpstra
O T
OT
D000328:Adult; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism; D001201:Ascites / Q000601:surgery; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006971:Hypersplenism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
D012709:Serum Albumin; D000990:Antithrombin III; D001663:Bilirubin