Portal venous stent placement for treatment of portal hypertension caused by benign main portal vein stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the value of endovascular stent in the treatment of portal hypertension caused by benign main portal vein stenosis.


METHODS
Portal vein stents were implanted in six patients with benign main portal vein stenosis (inflammatory stenosis in three cases, postprocedure of liver transplantation in another three cases). Changes in portal vein pressure, portal vein patency, relative clinical symptoms, complications, and survival were evaluated.


RESULTS
Six metallic stents were successfully placed across the portal vein stenotic or obstructive lesions in six patients. Mean portal venous pressure decreased significantly after stent implantation from (37.3+/-4.7) cm H(2)O to (18.0+/-1.9) cm H(2)O. The portal blood flow restored and the symptoms caused by portal hypertension were eliminated. There were no severe procedure-related complications. The patients were followed up for 1-48 mo. The portal vein remained patent during follow-up. All patients survived except for one patient who died of other complications of liver transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous portal vein stent placement for the treatment of portal hypertension caused by benign main portal vein stenosis is safe and effective.
Shan
Hong
H
Department of Radiology, Changzheng Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. gzshsums@public.guangzhou.gd.cn
Xiao
Xiang-Sheng
XS
Huang
Ming-Sheng
MS
Ouyang
Qiang
Q
Jiang
Zai-Bo
ZB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome