title: Percutaneous Microwave Ablation in the Spleen for Treatment of Hypersplenism in Cirrhosis Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the feasibility and therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous microwave ablation in the treatment of hypersplenism in cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one cirrhosis patients with hypersplenism were treated with ultrasonography-guided percutaneous microwave ablation between February 2007 and August 2011. Peripheral blood cell counts, portal vein diameter, splenic vein diameter, and blood flow of splenic vein were evaluated before and after the operation, and complications of the treatment were also investigated. All patients were followed up for 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of platelets and white blood cells were increased, while the splenic vein diameter narrowed gradually after the therapy and 24 months later. Moreover, patients received percutaneous microwave ablation had much lower splenic venous flow velocity. The portal vein diameter did not change significantly 6 months after the treatment, although it narrowed gradually within 3 months after the treatment. Furthermore, no complications such as uncontrollable bleeding, splenic abscess, spleen rupture, and damage in surrounding organ happened after the therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Graded percutaneous microwave ablation, as a minimally invasive therapy, could damage the spleen, increase the levels of platelets and white blood cells, and reduce portal hypertension effectively without serious complications. Percutaneous microwave ablation is an effective, safe, and feasible method for cirrhosis patients with hypersplenism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China. jxr112233@126.com.
authors.forename: XiangWu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: ShuFen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: XueLian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
authors.forename: HongKe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006971:Hypersplenism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
keywords: Cirrhosis; Hypersplenism; Minimally invasive therapy; Percutaneous microwave ablation