title: [Radiofrequency ablation for hypersplenism due to portal hypertension: clinical study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility, efficacy and clinical prospects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hypersplenism in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  The laboratory and radiologic data over one-year period of patients undergone splenic RFA were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients undergone splenic RFA has closely followed-up over 1 year. During hospitalization, no procedure-related complications occurred, only minor complications including hydrothorax (3/9 patients) and mild abdominal pain (4/9 patients) were observed. After treatment, average 30.7% (20%-43%) of spleen volume was ablated, and the platelet count reached peak on 14th post-procedure day. White blood cell and platelet counts, liver function, and hepatic artery blood flow had gained significant improvements comparing with those before RFA procedures. Hyperplasia/regeneration was also occurred in cirrhotic liver after splenic RFA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency ablation is a safe, effective and minimally invasive approach for the management of hypersplenism in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Increased hepatic artery blood flow can contribute to significant improvement of liver function, and maybe potentially stimulate liver regeneration in cirrhotic liver.
authors: Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. liuquanda@sina.com
authors: Quan-da
authors: QD
authors: Liu
authors: Kuan-sheng
authors: KS
authors: Ma
authors: Zhen-ping
authors: ZP
authors: He
authors: Qiao
authors: Q
authors: Wu
authors: Ning-xin
authors: NX
authors: Zhou
authors: Jia-hong
authors: JH
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006971:Hypersplenism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged