Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: a successful treatment for hepatopulmonary syndrome.
Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a well described complication of chronic liver disease. Though uncommon, it carries a high morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of the syndrome has not been clearly defined. Portal hypertension seems to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the syndrome, probably by enhancing nitric oxide production. As yet, no pharmacological therapy has been proven effective. Many reports of successful reversal of the syndrome after liver transplantation have been published. We report a patient with hepatopulmonary syndrome who showed a significant and durable (4 months') improvement in his symptoms, arterial oxygenation, and intrapulmonary shunts, as calculated by radionuclide studies after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may represent a durable treatment option for patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome.
Selim
K M
KM
The University of Southern California Liver Unit and Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, Downey, California, USA.
Akriviadis
E A
EA
Zuckerman
E
E
Chen
D
D
Reynolds
T B
TB
D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000601:surgery*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013577:Syndrome; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin