Operations for portal hypertension due to extrahepatic obstruction: results and 10 year follow up.

Between 1976 and 1984, 136 patients with portal hypertension due to extrahepatic obstruction were operated on. Twenty two patients had emergency and 114 elective operations. The operative mortality was 9% and 1%, respectively. Altogether 117 patients (86%) were followed up for from two to 10 years: 17 rebled, none developed encephalopathy or sepsis after splenectomy, and 90% and 75% were alive at five and 10 years respectively. Unlike endoscopic sclerotherapy and treatment with propranolol, operative treatment of variceal bleeding can usually be completed during one admission and carries a low mortality and a fairly low morbidity. Operation seems to be the best form of treatment for poor patients living far from medical facilities in developing countries and may be the treatment of choice in developed countries as well.     

Randomised comparison between adrenaline injection alone and adrenaline injection plus heat probe treatment for actively bleeding ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare endoscopic adrenaline injection alone and adrenaline injection plus heat probe for the treatment of actively bleeding peptic ulcers. DESIGN: Randomised prospective study of patients admitted with actively bleeding peptic ulcers. SETTING: One university hospital. SUBJECTS: 276 patients with actively bleeding ulcers detected by endoscopy within 24 hours of admission: 136 patients were randomised to endoscopic adrenaline injection alone and 140 to adrenaline injection plus heat probe treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Initial endoscopic haemostasis; clinical rebleeding; requirement for operation; requirement for blood transfusion; hospital stay, ulcer healing at four weeks; and mortality in hospital. RESULTS: Initial haemostasis was achieved in 131/134 patients (98%) who received adrenaline injection alone and 135/136 patients (99%) who received additional heat probe treatment (P = 0.33). Outcome as measured by clinical rebleeding (12 v 5), requirement for emergency operation (14 v 8), blood transfusion (2 v 3 units), hospital stay (4 v 4 days), ulcer healing at four weeks (79.1% v 74%), and in hospital mortality (7 v 8) were not significantly different in the two groups. In the subgroup of patients with spurting haemorrhage 8/27 (29.6%; 14.5% to 50.3%) patients from the adrenaline injection alone group and 2/31 (6.5%; 1.1% to 22.9%) patients from the dual treatment group required operative intervention. The relative risk of this was lower in the dual treatment group (0.17; 0.03 to 0.87). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the dual treatment group than the adrenaline injection alone group (4 v 6 days, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The addition of heat probe treatment after endoscopic adrenaline injection confers an advantage in ulcers with spurting haemorrhage.     

Management of variceal haemorrhage.

Fig 2 gives an algorithm for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices. Initial resuscitation of the patient is of paramount importance, ideally followed by early interventional endoscopy. Recent advances in available endoscopic techniques enable the endoscopist to suit the therapeutic approach to the clinical situation. Injection sclerotherapy remains the initial treatment of choice in bleeding patients. Endoscopic banding ligation is an alternative, best used in patients who have spontaneously stopped bleeding or as a complementary treatment a few days after the initial session of injection sclerotherapy. The tissue adhesives and thrombin can be used to treat bleeding gastric varices. [table: see text] Should the endoscopic expertise not be available, drug treatment (with somatostatin or octreotide) or balloon tamponade are the treatments of choice. Transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic stent shunt is a new effective technique, not yet widely available, which has a documented complication rate that has yet to be fully defined. It is a good alternative to surgery as a "rescue" procedure for patients who continue to bleed despite two sessions of endoscopic intervention.     

Measurement of Variceal Pressure with a Computerized Endoscopic Manometry: Validation and Effect of Propranolol Therapy in Cirrhotic Patients

Background and Purpose

Recently, we invented a computerized endoscopic balloon manometry (CEBM) to measure variceal pressure (VP) in cirrhotic patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of this method, and whether this technique provided further information to pharmacological therapy.

Patients and Methods

VP measurements were performed in 83 cirrhotic patients and compared with HVPG as well as endoscopic bleeding risk parameters. Furthermore, VP was assessed before and during propranolol therapy in 30 patients without previous bleeding.

Results

VP measurements were successful in 96% (83/86) of all patients. Of the 83 patients, the VP correlated closely with the HVPG (P<0.001). The presence of red colour signs and the size of varices were strongly associated with VP. Patients with previous bleeding had higher VP than those who had not yet experienced bleeding. In univariate analysis, the level of VP, the size of varices, and red color signs predicted a higher risk of bleeding. The multiple logistic regression model revealed that VP was the major risk factor for bleeding. In 30 patients receiving propranolol, VP significantly decreased from 21.1±3.5 mmHg before therapy to 18.1±3.3 mmHg after 3 months and to 16.3±4.0 mmHg after 6 months. Comparing the mean decrease in VP with that in hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), the decrease in VP was more obvious than HVPG response to propranolol.

Conclusions

This study showed that CEBM is safe and practical to assess VP in cirrhotic patient. It has the potential to be used as a clinical method to assess the risk of variceal bleeding and the effects of pharmacological therapy.

Trial registration

Effect of vasoactive drugs on esophageal variceal hemodynamics in patients with portal hypertension. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry –TRC-08000252.     

Simplified oesophageal transection for bleeding varices.

Thirty patients with bleeding oesophageal varices were treated by oesophageal transection using the SPTU gun. Any form of shunt was contraindicated in all the patients. Twelve operations were done as urgent procedures within 36 hours of haemorrhage. The overall operative mortality rate was 10%, and there were two late deaths during follow-up, which has so far extended from two months to two years. Three of the patients had recurrent bleeding, and residual varices were probably the source in two. There were no cases of portal systemic encephalopathy. Although the follow-up is too short to allow any definite conclusions, these early results suggest that oesophageal transection with the SPTU gun may be useful in the large proportion of patients in whom injection sclerotherapy, shunt surgery, or conservative treatment is inappropriate.     

Arterial Blood Pressure Is Closely Related to Ascites Development in Compensated HCV-Related Cirrhosis

Background

Arterial blood pressure (BP) is a reliable marker of circulatory dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. There are no prospective studies evaluating the association between different levels of arterial BP and ascites development in compensated cirrhotic patients. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between arterial BP and ascites development in compensated cirrhotic patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 402 patients with compensated HCV-related cirrhosis were prospectively followed during 6 years to identify ascites development. At baseline, patients underwent systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurements. Any history of arterial hypertension was also recorded. The occurrence of events such as bleeding, hepatocellular carcinoma, death and liver transplantation prior to ascites development were considered as competing risk events.

Results

Over a median of 156 weeks, ascites occurred in 54 patients (13%). At baseline, MAP was significantly lower in patients with ascites development (75.9 mm/Hg [95%CI, 70.3–84.3]) than those without ascites (93.6 mm/Hg [95% CI: 86.6–102.3]). After adjusting for covariates, the 6-year cumulative incidence of ascites was 40% (95%CI, 34%–48%) for patients with MAP<83.32 mm/Hg. In contrast, cumulative incidences of ascites were almost similar among patients with MAP values between 83.32 mm/Hg and 93.32 mm/Hg (7% [95% CI: 4%–12%]), between 93.32 mm/Hg and 100.31 mm/Hg (5% [95% CI: 4%–11%]) or higher than 100.31 mm/Hg (3% [95% CI: 1%–6%]). The MAP was an independent predictor of ascites development.

Conclusions

The MAP is closely related to the development of ascites in compensated HCV-related cirrhosis. The risk of ascites development increases in 4.4 fold for subjects with MAP values <83.32 mm/Hg.     

Effects of the combined administration of propranolol plus sorafenib on portal hypertension in cirrhotic rats

Low doses of sorafenib have been shown to decrease portal pressure (PP), portal-systemic shunts, and liver fibrosis in cirrhotic rats. Nonselective beta blockers (NSBB) are the only drugs recommended for the treatment of portal hypertension. The aim of our study was to explore whether the combination of propranolol and sorafenib might show an additive effect reducing PP in cirrhotic rats. Groups of common bile duct-ligated cirrhotic rats (CBDL) and sham-operated control rats were treated by gavage with vehicle, propranolol (30 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), sorafenib (1 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), or propranolol+sorafenib. Treatment began 2 wk after the CBDL or sham operation. Hemodynamic evaluation was performed after 2 wk of treatment. In cirrhotic rats, propranolol and sorafenib produced a significant (P < 0.001) and similar reduction in PP (-19 and -15%, respectively). This was achieved through different mechanisms: whereas propranolol decreased PP by reducing portal blood flow (-35%; P = 0.03), sorafenib decreased PP without decreasing portal flow indicating decreased hepatic resistance. After propranolol+sorafenib, the fall in PP was significantly greater (-30%; P < 0.001) than with either drug alone, demonstrating an additive effect. However, the reduction in portal flow (-39%) under combined therapy was not significantly greater than after propranolol alone. Sorafenib, alone or in combination with propranolol, produced significant reduction in portal-systemic shunting (-25 and -33%, respectively), splanchnic vascularization (-37 and -41%, respectively), liver fibrosis (38%), and hepatic neovascularization (-42 and -51%, respectively). These effects were not observed after propranolol alone. In conclusion, the combination of propranolol+sorafenib causes a greater reduction in PP than either drug alone and decreases markedly the extent of portal-systemic shunting, splanchnic and hepatic neovascularization, and liver fibrosis, suggesting that this drug combination is a potentially useful strategy in the treatment of portal hypertension.     

Bleeding From Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis of the Liver: Hemodynamic and Radiological Criteria for the Selection of Potential Bleeders Through Hepatic and Umbilicoportal Catheterization Studies

Combined hepatic and umbilicoportal catheterization was performed in 38 compensated cirrhotics. Portohepatography with opacification of the coronary vein was obtained in all cases. The free portal venous pressure (FPVP) and the wedged (WHVP) and free (FHVP) hepatic venous pressures were recorded. The portohepatic gradient (FPVP-FHVP) was used as an index of portal hypertension. The coronary vein was separately re-evaluated for varices and graded as 1+ to 4+.Eighteen patients had varices graded as 3+ or 4+ (Group A) and all had a portohepatic gradient of 10 mm. Hg or more. The other 20 cirrhotics (Group B) had varices graded as 1+ or 2+ and 15 had a portohepatic gradient of less than 10 mm. Hg. The difference between gradients of Group A and Group B was highly significant.Of the 38 cirrhotics studied, eight had bled from varices and all are included in Group A. There is no significant difference between the gradients of both bleeders and non-bleeders of Group A.There is a significant correlation between the presence of large varices with a portohepatic gradient of 10 mm. Hg or more and a high risk of variceal bleeding. The radiological and hemodynamic data obtained by combined hepatic and umbilicoportal catheterization in cirrhosis of the liver can be of significant help in the selection of potential bleeders.     

内镜套扎术联合奥美拉唑、奥曲肽治疗食管静脉曲张出血的疗效及安全性

目的:探究内镜套扎术联合奥美拉唑、奥曲肽治疗食管静脉曲张出血的疗效及安全性。方法:选取2014年5月至2016年5月于我院诊治的肝硬化合并食管静脉曲张出血患者127例,分为研究组和对照组。对照组在常规治疗的基础上予以奥美拉唑和奥曲肽治疗,研究组则在对照组基础上予以内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术(EVL)治疗。分析比较两组患者的临床疗效、住院情况、不良反应的发生情况及治疗后再出血率。结果:研究组所有患者的均成功完成手术,未出现大出血情况,对照组有10例患者表现为呕血和黑便,其中1例患者转为手术治疗。治疗后,研究组的临床总有效率显著高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗期间,研究组的止血时间、输血量、住院天数和住院费用均显著少于对照组(P0.05),研究组和对照组分别有10例和7例患者出现了恶心呕吐、食管异物感、头昏、心悸、腹痛腹胀、大便次数增多和发热等不良反应,其中对照组的大便次数增多的发生率显著高于研究组(P0.05),而其余不良反应发生率和不良反应总发生率比较差异无统计学意义。治疗后1年随访时间内,无死亡患者,研究组在第0.5、1、3、6、12个月的再出血率均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:内镜套扎术联合奥美拉唑、奥曲肽治疗食管静脉曲张出血的临床疗效明显,能够有效、快速止血,缩短住院天数,降低住院费用和再出血率,且安全性高。     

Surgical management of portal hypertension.

Portal hypertension is frequently complicated by upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding and ascites. Hemorrhage from esophageal varices is the most common cause of death from portal hypertension. Medical treatment, including resuscitation, vasoactive drugs, and endoscopic sclerosis, is the preferred initial therapy. Patients with refractory hemorrhage frequently are referred for immediate surgical intervention (usually emergency portacaval shunt). An additional cohort of patients with a history of at least 1 episode of variceal hemorrhage is likely to benefit from elective shunt operations. Shunt operations are classified as total, partial, or selective shunts based on their hemodynamic characteristics. Angiographically created shunts have been introduced recently as an alternative to operative shunts in certain circumstances. Devascularization of the esophagus or splenectomy is done for specific indications. Medically intractable ascites is a separate indication for surgical intervention. Liver transplantation has been advocated for patients whose portal hypertension is a consequence of end-stage liver disease. In the context of an increasingly complex set of treatment options, we present an overview of surgical therapy for complications of portal hypertension.     

TIPS治疗肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的疗效及安全性研究

目的:研究经颈静脉肝内门体分流术(TIPS)治疗肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的疗效及安全性。方法:选取我院2013年8月到2015年4月收治的肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血患者86例为研究对象,采用随机数字法将其分为对照组和观察组,每组各43例。对照组患者行经皮经肝胃冠状静脉栓塞术(PTVE)治疗,观察组患者行TIPS治疗。比较两组患者的手术成功率、各并发症发生率、远期生存率及症状缓解情况,同时观察两组患者术后的肝功能变化。结果:观察组手术后的门静脉压力、术后3个月、6个月及12个月再出血发生率均明显低于对照组(P0.05),而肝性脑病发生率与对照组比较差异无明显统计学意义(P0.05)。两组手术前、术后6个月和12个月的Child-Pugh评分、血清TBIL、DBIL水平比较均无明显差异(P0.05),术后3个月,观察组的Child-Pugh评分、血清TBIL、DBIL水平均明显高于对照组(P0.01)。两组术后1年生存率比较无明显差异(P=0.72)。结论:TIPS治疗肝硬化食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的手术安全性较高,术后再出血等并发症发生率低,能有效改善静脉曲张症状,对肝功能损伤控制较好,且远期生存率较高。     

The Outcome of Prophylactic Intravenous Cefazolin and Ceftriaxone in Cirrhotic Patients at Different Clinical Stages of Disease after Endoscopic Interventions for Acute Variceal Hemorrhage

Antibiotic prophylaxis with norfloxacin, intravenous ciprofloxacin, or ceftriaxone has been recommended for cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage but little is known about intravenous cefazolin. This study aimed to compare the outcome of intravenous cefazolin and ceftriaxone as prophylactic antibiotics among cirrhotic patients at different clinical stages, and to identify the associated risk factors. The medical records of 713 patients with acute variceal bleeding who had received endoscopic procedures from were reviewed. Three hundred and eleven patients were entered for age-matched adjustment after strict exclusion criteria. After the adjustment, a total of 102 patients were enrolled and sorted into 2 groups according to the severity of cirrhosis: group A (Child’s A patients, n = 51) and group B (Child’s B and C patients, n = 51). The outcomes were prevention of infection, time of rebleeding, and death. Our subgroup analysis results failed to show a significant difference in infection prevention between patients who received prophylactic cefazolin and those who received ceftriaxone among Child’s A patients (93.1% vs. 90.9%, p = 0.641); however, a trend of significance in favor of ceftriaxone prophylaxis (77.8% vs. 87.5%, p = 0.072) was seen among Child’s B and C patients. More rebleeding cases were observed in patients who received cefazolin than in those who received ceftriaxone among Child’s B and C patients (66.7% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.011) but not in Child’s A patients (32% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.376). The risk factors associated with rebleeding were history of bleeding and use of prophylactic cefazolin among Child’s B and C patients. In conclusion, this study suggests that prophylactic intravenous cefazolin may not be inferior to ceftriaxone in preventing infections and reducing rebleeding among Child’s A cirrhotic patients after endoscopic interventions for acute variceal bleeding. Prophylactic intravenous ceftriaxone yields better outcome among Child’s B and C patients.     

Endoscopic injection of adrenaline for actively bleeding ulcers: a randomised trial

A prospective randomised trial was performed to assess the efficacy of endoscopic injection of adrenaline for actively bleeding ulcers. Emergency endoscopy in 961 patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage identified 68 patients with actively bleeding ulcers. These 68 patients were randomised to receive either endoscopic injection of adrenaline or no endoscopic treatment. After endoscopy both groups were managed in an identical manner, and strict criteria for emergency operation were adhered to in both groups. Bleeding was initially controlled in all 34 patients assigned to the treatment group. Significantly fewer patients in the treatment group than in the control group needed emergency operations (five v 14, respectively). In addition, in the treatment group the median transfusion requirement was significantly less (three v five units of blood) and the median hospital stay shorter (six v eight days). No complications were observed with the injection of adrenaline, and the rate of healing of ulcers in those attending for endoscopy six weeks after discharge was similar in both groups (81% (17 out of 21 patients) in the treatment group v 79% (11 out of 14) in the control group).Injection of adrenaline is effective in stopping bleeding from actively bleeding ulcers.     

Development of cutaneous gangrene during continuous peripheral infusion of vasopressin.

Five patients given vasopressin by infusion to reduce portal hypertension developed signs of cutaneous gangrene 18-24 hours after the start of the infusion. Four patients were treated by application of local dressings; in three cases the lesions healed, but the fourth patient died from variceal haemorrhage. The remaining patient required split skin grafting but died 48 hours after operation. The mechanism of this effect of vasopressin is not clear, but if local blanching of the skin is noted during infusion the catheter should be flushed immediately with a vasodilator in an effort to counteract the drug''s vasoconstrictor effect.     

兰索拉唑联合奥曲肽治疗急性非静脉曲张性上消化道出血的临床效果及安全性分析

目的:探讨兰索拉唑联合奥曲肽治疗急性非静脉曲张性上消化道出血的临床疗效以及安全性。方法:选取自2014年1月到2017年1月我院收治的急性非静脉曲张性上消化道出血患者102例,随机分为A组、B组和C组,每组各34例。A组使用兰索拉唑进行治疗,B组使用奥曲肽进行治疗,C组联合使用兰索拉唑和奥曲肽进行治疗。对比三组患者的临床疗效、止血时间、血压稳定时间、胃管引流量、胃液PH值以及不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,C组的显效率为61.76%,显著高于A组和B组(均P0.05);C组的总有效率为97.06%,显著高于B组(P0.05);C组的止血时间为(15.37±4.38)h,血压稳定时间为(7.23±1.18)h,胃管引流量为(236.59±29.81)mL,均显著少于A组和B组,而胃液PH值为(5.91±0.57),显著高于A组和B组(均P0.05)。三组患者不良反应发生率的对比差异均没有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:兰索拉唑联合奥曲肽治疗急性非静脉曲张性上消化道出血可显著提高止血效果,临床疗效明显优于单用兰索拉唑或奥曲肽治疗,且安全性相当。     

Importance of hypovolaemic shock and endoscopic signs in predicting recurrent haemorrhage from peptic ulceration: a prospective evaluation.

The incidence of rebleeding was studied prospectively in 177 patients with acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage from peptic ulceration with reference to the degree of haemodynamic insult on admission and the presence of endoscopic signs of recent haemorrhage on initial endoscopy. Rebleeding occurred in two (2%) of 114 patients without shock, in seven (18%) of 38 with tachycardia (pulse rate greater than 100 beats/min, systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg), and in 12 (48%) of 25 with shock (systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg). A similar gradient was noted with the presence of endoscopic signs alone. Rebleeding occurred in four (5%) of 79 patients with no endoscopic signs, in none of 40 with black spot only, in 11 (23%) of 48 with a clot, and in five (50%) of 10 with a visible vessel on endoscopy. When the incidence of rebleeding was assessed in shocked patients, however, it was significantly higher in those with important signs (clot or visible vessel), in 11 (79%) out of 14 patients, than in those with no signs, in one (9%) out of 11 (p less than 0.001). These data suggest that the association of shock with important endoscopic signs is a stronger predictor of rebleeding than either shock or important signs alone. More aggressive treatment may be warranted in this small group of patients.     

内镜下硬化剂和套扎治疗食管静脉曲张术后对门脉高压性胃病和胃底静脉曲张的影响

目的:探讨食管静脉曲张(EV)采用内镜下套扎术(EVL)和硬化剂(EVS)治疗对患者近远期并发胃底静脉曲张(GV)以及门脉高压性胃病(PHG)并发症的影响。方法:抽选我院肝硬化上消化道出血后接受内镜下治疗的患者97例为研究对象,其中19例予以内镜下EVS治疗,78例行内镜下EVL治疗,随访1年,观察治疗3个月、6个月、1年后并发GV、PHG的近远期概率。结果:治疗3个月后,本组患者GV、PHG等并发症的发生率为17.5%(17/97)、39.2%(38/97),与治疗前比较差异无显著性(P0.05);治疗6个月后,本组患者GV、PHG等并发症的发生率为32%(31/97)、70.1%(68/97),与治疗前相比,并发人数显著增加(P0.05);治疗1年后,GV、PHG的发生率为42.3%(41/97)、88.7%(86/97),并发人数显著高于治疗前(P0.05)。结论:内镜下EVS、EVL治疗在消退食管曲张静脉和良好地控制出血的同时,还可增加PHG、GV的并发几率,值得临床重视预防。     

一氧化氮与肝硬化门脉高压高动力循环的关系

目的 :研究肝硬化门脉高压血清NO水平与血流动力学改变之间的关系。方法 :用比色法检测35例肝硬化病人和 2 5例正常人血清NO浓度 ,用彩色多普勒检测肝硬化组及正常组门静脉横径及门静脉血流量。结果 :肝硬化门脉高压患者血清NO显著升高。结论 :检测血清NO可作为判断肝硬化门脉高压的指标 ,血清NO在高动力循环中起重要作用     

PTVE 与TIPS治疗肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血 的疗效比较

目的:研究经皮胃底曲张静脉栓塞术(PTVE)和经颈静脉肝内门体分流术(TIPS)治疗肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的临床疗效,为临床治疗提供依据。方法:选取2001年4月到2015年4月我院肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂患者169例,根据手术方式分为PTVE组(行PTVE治疗)141例和TIPS组(行TIPS治疗)28例,比较两组术前、术后门静脉压力,术前、术后3个月、6个月以及1年两组Child-Pugh评分、白蛋白以及直接胆红素,并比较两组再出血和肝性脑病发生率。结果:TIPS组术后门静脉压力较术前显著降低,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),术后PTVE组及TIPS组组间比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组术前和术后各时间直接胆红素无统计学意义(P0.05);PTVE组术后1年白蛋白水平显著升高,与术前和TIPS组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),TIPS组术后白蛋白有所升高,但各时间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),PTVE组术后各时间Child-Pugh评分较术前明显改善,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),TIPS组术后3个月和术后6个月Child-Pugh评分较术前明显改善,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组术后再出血发生率比较无统计学意义(P0.05),PTVE组肝性脑病发生率显著低于TIPS组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:PTVE和TIPS治疗肝硬化门静脉高压合并食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血效果相当,TIPS能显著降低门静脉压,PTVE能降低肝性脑病的发生率,改善患者Child-Pugh评分。     

TIPS and splenorenal shunt for complications of portal hypertension in chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis–A case series and review of the literature

BackgroundTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and shunt surgery are established treatment options for portal hypertension, but have not been systematically evaluated in patients with portal hypertension due to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS), one of the neglected tropical diseases with major impact on morbidity and mortality in endemic areas.MethodsIn this retrospective case study, patients with chronic portal hypertension due to schistosomiasis treated with those therapeutic approaches in four tertiary referral hospitals in Germany and Italy between 2012 and 2020 were included. We have summarized pre-interventional clinical data, indication, technical aspects of the interventions and clinical outcome.FindingsOverall, 13 patients with confirmed HSS were included. 11 patients received TIPS for primary or secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding due to advanced portal hypertension and failure of conservative management. In two patients with contraindications for TIPS or technically unsuccessful TIPS procedure, proximal splenorenal shunt surgery in combination with splenectomy was conducted. During follow-up (mean follow-up 23 months, cumulative follow-up time 31 patient years) no bleeding events were documented. In five patients, moderate and transient episodes of overt hepatic encephalopathy were observed. In one patient each, liver failure, portal vein thrombosis and catheter associated sepsis occurred after TIPS insertion. All complications were well manageable and had favorable outcomes.ConclusionsTIPS implantation and shunt surgery are safe and effective treatment options for patients with advanced HSS and sequelae of portal hypertension in experienced centers, but require careful patient selection.