Percutaneous transsplenic embolization of esophageal and gastrio-fundal varices in 18 patients.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical application and potential complication of percutaneous transsplenic varices embolization (PTSVE) of esophageal or gastrio-fundal varices in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with portal vein cancerous thrombosis (PVCT).


METHODS
18 patients with HCC complicated with PVCT and esophageal or gastrio-fundal varices who underwent PTSVE were collected. The rate of success, complication, mortality of the procedure and postoperative complication were recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
PTSVE were successfully performed in 16 of 18 cases, and the rate of success was 89%. After therapy erythrocyte counts decreased in all of the natunts. 5 of patients needed blood transfusion, 2 patients required surgical intervention because of and 11 patients with ascites were alleviated by diuresis. Among these 18 patients, the procedure-related mortality was 11% (2/18), one died of acute hepatic failure on the forth day after procedure, another died of acute renal failure on the fifth day. The patients were follow up for 1-12 mon exceptone. 13 of them died of their tumors but none of them experienced variceal bleeding.


CONCLUSIONS
PTSVE is a relatively safe and effective method to treat esophageal or gastrio-fundal varices in HCC patients with PVCT when percutaneous transhepatic varices embolization (PTHVE) of varices is impossible.
Gong
G Q
GQ
Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. ggqjj@online.shanghai.cn
Wang
X L
XL
Wang
J H
JH
Yan
Z P
ZP
Cheng
J M
JM
Qian
S
S
Chen
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications