Objective To describe the technique, efficacy, and safety of percutaneous interventional therapy for anastomotic biliary strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).Methods From May 2004 to December 2009, 25 patients with anastomotic biliary strictures afte OLT were enrolled in our study. The modalities of biliary drainage included external drainage in 22patients, and external-internal drainage in 3 patients who underwent re-transplantation. All patients accepted percutaneous interventional therapy in our hospital, including single PTBD in 4 patients,PTBD combined with balloon dilation in 14 patients, balloon dilation and plastic stent implantation in 5 patients, balloon dilation and metallic stent implantation in 2 patients. The drainage catheters were exchanged every 1 to 3 months. Results The success rate of PTBD was 100%. Of the all 25patients, 15 (60 %) patients were cured, and 10 (40 %) patients were improved. The effective rate was 100 %. The drainage catheters failed to pass through the narrow bile duct when initial PTBD in 7 patients, and success was achieved in 3 patients by operation again after biliary drainage for one week.In the other 4 patients, anastomotic bile ducts were occluded, which was confirmed by cholangiography after biliary drainage for 4 to 8 weeks. The rate of biliary tract infection was 24 % (6/25). No serious procedure-related complications occurred in the all 25 patients. Conclusion PTBD combined with balloon dilation and biliary stenting is a effective and safe therapeutic modality for anastomotic biliary strictures after OLT, which can improve the patients' clinical symptoms and elevate patients' quality of life. To avoid bile duct occlusion, the drainage catheters should be passed through the narrow segments of bile duct when initial PTBD.

Objective To investigate the technique,efficacy,and safety of percutaneous interventional treatments for biliary complications (BC) after liver transplantation (LT).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 127 patients with BC after LT,who received percutaneous interventional treatments in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2006 to December 2015,were analyzed retrospectively.On the basis of the cholangiographic appearance,patients were classified into 5 groups:biliary leakage group (n =11),anastomotic biliary strictures group (n=28),hilar biliary strictures group (n =30),multifocal biliary strictures group (n =51),and bilomas group (n =7).The modality of interventional treatments was percutanous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD),PTBD combined with balloon dilation,PTBD combined with balloon dilation and stent implantation.The methods of biliary drainage included external drainage and external-internal drainage.All the patients were followed up after treatment.The curative effect and operation-correlated complications were observed.Results The first successful rate of PTBD was 97.6％ (124/ 127).The total curative rate,improvement rate and inefficacy rate of interventional treatments were 37.8％ (48/127),44.9％ (57/127) and 17.3％ (22/127) respectively.In biliary leakage group,all the patients were cured by percutaneous interventional treatments with the curative rate being 100％.In anastomotic biliary strictures group,the cure and improvement rates were 64.3％ (18/28) and 35.7％ (10/28) respectively.The efficacy rate was 100％ (28/28).In hilar biliary strictures group,the cure,improvement and inefficacy rates were 40％ (12/30),53.3％ (16/30) and 6.7％ (2/30) respectively.The efficacy rate was 93.3％ (28/30).In multifocal biliary strictures group,the cure,improvement and inefficacy rates were 13.7％ (7/51),54.9％ (28/51) and 31.4％ (16/51) respectively.The efficacy rate was 68.6％ (35/51).In bilomas group,3 cases (3/7) obtained improvement and treatment of 4 cases was inefficative.The efficacy was the best for the patients with bilary leakage,and it was the worst for the patient with bilomas (P＜0.001).The main operation-correlated complication was bile tract infection during drainage.The rates of bile tract infection were 32.4％ (34/105) and 81.8％ (18/22) in patients with external drainage and external-internal drainage,respectively.There was statistically significant difference between these two items (P＜ 0.001).Conclusion PTBD combined with balloon dilation and biliary stent implantation is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for BC after LT,which can improve patients' clinical symptoms,improve patients' quality of life.The patients with bilomas should be treated by retransplantation as soon as possible.The biliary external drainage can decrease the rate of biliary tract infection significantly.

Objective To assess the clinical value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles as embolic material in patients with primary hepatic cancer (PHC). Methods Twenty patients with PHC underwent TACE. The mixed emulsion of chemotherapy agents and lipiodol was given to embolize the tumor vssTranscatheter arterial chemoembolization using polyvinyl alcohol feeding artery of tumors. The tumors size, response rate and Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) value were monitored respectively at the end of the first month, the third month, the sixth month and the first year after TACE. The changes of liver function, including serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBILI), were recorded within 1 week and 1 month after TACE. The time to progression and the overall survival were recorded. Results Compared with pre-TACE, the tumor size decreased obviously at the end of the first month, the third month, the sixth month and the first year after TACE (P<0.05), the response rate reached 80.00%, 90.00%, 95.00% and 95.00%, respectively. The AFP value decreased obviously. Serum AST, ALT and TBILI significantly increased in the first week after TACE (P<0.05), but returned to preoperative level within 1 month. The average follow-up time was (19.8±7.0) months (range 12-32 months), the time to progression was (17.0±6.8) months, and the overall survival was (19.3±7.0) months. Conclusion PVA particles are optimal embolic material for TACE of PHC. Superselective embolization is necessary in TACE to achieve effective tumor devascularization and reduce liver damage.

Objective To evaluate combination multiple interventional therapies for acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT).Methods From January 2008 to October 2014,96 patients with acute unilateral proximal or mixed DVT received interventional treatments including 74 DVT cases of the left lower extremity,and 22 patients in the right.Procedures undertaken included catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) only (n =7),CDT combined with thrombolysis (n =89),balloon angioplasty (n =32),and stent implantation (n =6).Results The mean circumference difference between the normal and affected thighs dicreased from (6.7 ± 1.8) cm to (0.8 ± 0.3) cm,t =13.48,P ＜ 0.001.That between the normal and affected calves decreased from (5.9 ± 1.6)cm to (0.7 ±0.4)cm,t =12.84,P ＜0.001.After intervention the Porter's score reduced from (9.7 ± 2.4) points to (1.1 ± 0.6) points,t =15.46,P ＜0.001,and the venous patency rate was (90 ± 8)％.Conclusion CDT combined with thrombolysis through dorsal vein,PTA,and stent implantation is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for acute lower extremity DVT.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of percutaneous transluminal angiography in diabetic infrapopliteal arterial disease patients and the influence of post-procedural intraluminal small dose urokinase infusion on infrapopliteal arterial blood flow.Methods From January 2011 to September 2013,37 limbs (16 left and 21 right) in 28 diabetic patients inflicted with infrapopliteal critical limb ischemia underwent endovascular recannalization at our institution and were retrospectively analyzed.Stenotic or occlusive lesions were demonstrated in 74 infrapopliteal vessels,including 30 anterior tibial arteries (ATA),22 posterior tibial arteries (PTA),and 22 peroneal arteries (PA).In 30 limbs,tandem lesions in iliac-femoral arteries were also diagnosed.Antegrade ipsilateral femoral access,retrograde contralateral femoral or brachial arterial access had all been adopted as well as both angioplasty and stenting.Case specific decisions were made based on pre-procedural computed tomographic angiogram (CTA).Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was recorded before and after each procedure.Urokinase was continuously infused through arterial sheath catheter into vessels of target limb from a microinfusion pump at 200 000 to 300 000 units per 24 hour for 48 hours after procedure.Angiogram was performed before and after thrombolysis therapy aiming to ascertain the number of frames of images obtained during the period of time it took blood flow to carry contrast medium from the level of tibial plateau to ankle,which was recorded as index frame count (IFC).Patients were followed up for at least 3 months.ABI and ultrasound or CTA were performed on each follow-up visit to validate patency.Quantitative data such as ABI value and IFC were analyzed using paired samples t-test.Results Thirty two limbs were radiographically recanalized by angioplasty or stenting.Technical success rate was 86.4％ (32/37).Average ABI of all limbs increased significantly from 0.70±0.31 to 0.90± 0.21 (t=10.734,P＜0.05).Of the 32 limbs recanalized,IFC decreased significantly from 6.3 ± 1.6 before thrombolysis to 4.7± 1.4 after thrombolysis (t=12.136,P＜0.05).Six rest pain patients reported significantly alleviated symptoms.Fourteen limbs presented with feet ulcers or gangrene.Of these patients after endovascular treatment,1 underwent ankle level amputation,3 underwent toe amputation and 3 patients who did not seek further treatment reported spontaneous autoamputation and wound healing.The remaining 9 patients reported wound healing within 1 to 3 months.Secondary angioplasty was needed for symptom recurrence in 3 limbs of 3 patients 3 to 24 months after first procedure.Conclusions Endovascular treatment of diabetic infrapopliteal arterial diseases exhibited significant short term effect and was safe to perform.Small dose urokinase infusion after recanalization procedure was safe and effective in helping to improve infragenicular blood flow.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous transsplenic portal vein catheterization (PTSPC). Methods Thirty patients with portal hypertension underwent gastroesophageal variceal embolization via PTSPC route, 2 of which simultaneously underwent portal vein stenting. This study included the patients with portal venous obstruction ( tumor embolus or thrombus) or the patients with serious liver atrophy caused by liver cirrhosis. The patients who had severe coagulation insufficiency (with prothrombin time ＞ 20 s) were excluded. Of the 30 patients, 17 had primary hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal venous tumor embolus, 13 had cirrhosis with severe liver atrophy and(or) slight or moderate ascite. Before this study, all of 30 patients had a history of variceal bleeding, and 16 patients had a normal coagulation level, 10 patients had a mildly prolonged prothrombin time (14-17 s), 4 patients had a moderately prolonged prothrombin time (18-20 s). All of 30 patients underwent upper abdomen CT enhanced scanning before this procedure, and the site, direction, and depth of splenic vein branch puncture were decided by CT images. The technology of PTSPC, procedure-related complications, and its clinical application were retrospectively analyzed. Results PTSPC was performed successfully in 28 of 30 patients. Two cases failed because of a small intrasplenic vein. Procedure-related complications occurred in 6 patients (20. 0% ), which had decrease of hemoglobin concentration ( 15-50 g/L). Four of them needed blood transfusion. In the six patients, one patient (3.3%) with abdominal cavity hemorrhage had a serious drop of blood pressure 2 hours after procedure, whose clinical symptoms were relieved after four units of packed RBC and a great quantity of fluid were transfused. Twenty-eight patients whose PTSPC were successfullyperformed underwent variceal embolization, 2 of them were placed with portal vein covered stents. During a median follow-up period of 6 months (range: one to forty-two months), 14 patients died of hepatocellular carcinoma 1 to 12 months after procedure, and 2 patients died of hepatic failure caused by liver cirrhosis at fourteen months and twenty-three months after procedure, respectively. Variceal rebleeding was observed in 4 patients, the cumulative rebleeding rate at 1 year was 14.3%. Conclusion PTSPC is a feasible procedure, which provides a useful route for endovascular treatment of portal vein. However, hemorrhage at the puncture site after procedure should be noticed.

ObjectiveTo investigate imaging features of the liver, portal vein and hepatic vein or transhepatic inferior venacava in patients with severe liver cirrhosisin multidetector row computed tomography ( MDCT), and assess the feasibility, safety and clinical significance of percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PTIPS). MethodsFifty patients with severe liver cirrhosis confirmed by clinical data and imaging examination were enrolled in this study. Simulation of intrahepatic portosystemic shunt by percutaneous transhepatic approch is as follows. The right midaxillary line (the eighth or ninth intercostal space) was selected as puncture point A the right branch of portal vein was puncture point B,transhepatic inferior vena cava was puncture point C, and the distal part of right portal vein was D. A-B-C connection is simulated as percutaneous transhepatic puncture tract, C-B-D connection is simulated as portosystemic shunt tract.After tri-phase contrast-enhanced CT scanning, postprocessing images through multiple planner reconstruction ( MPR ) were obtained. The data were indicated statistically by x ± s. And 95％ confidence interval for mean was calculated.Anatomic relationship among the right portal vein,transhepatic inferior vena cava, hepatic artery and bile duct were analyzed for all patients. ResultsThe length of the needle (A-B-C) is ( 145. 7 ± 14. 8 ) mm. The curvature of the needle ( the angle of A-B line and B-C line) is ( 145.0 ±9.9)°. The length of transhepatic shunt tract (B-C) is (42.7 ±7.2) mm. The length of the shunt tract (C-B-D) is ( 117. 7 ±11.6 ) mm; The angle of the shunt tract ( the angle of B-C line and B-D line) is (1O8.5 ± 5.9)°. In 24/50 patients, transhepatic inferior vena cava locate in the dorsal of the right portal vein, in 26/50 patients they are in the same plane.In all patients, the right branches of hepatic artery and bile duct locate in the ventral of the right portal vein.Conclusion The procedure of PTIPS is feasible and safe. To quantify the length and angle of the needle and the length and angle of the shunt tract provides the anatomic basis for clinical application.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and interventional therapeutic technology for the obstruction of hepatic vein(HV)or inferior vena cava(IVC)after liver transplantation.Methods In the 831 patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT)and 26 patients who received living donor liver transplantation(LDLT),11 cases were confirmed with HV or IVC obstruction by venography and received interventional treatment from 2 to 111 days after liver transplantation.Of the 11 patients,five had the obstruction of HV anastomosis,five had the obstruction of IVC anastomosis,and one had the obstruction of HV and IVC anastomosis.In the eleven patients,five patients underwent OLT,four patients underwent LDLT,and two pediatric patients underwent reduced-size OLT.Before interventional treatment,9 patients received CT enhanced scans,2 received MR enhanced scans.Follow-up evaluations included liver or renal function tests,clinical symptom,and monitoring of HV or IVC flow.Pressure gradients before and after interventional treatment were compared by using a paired t test.The imaging data and interventional therapeutic technology of 11 cases were retrospectively analyzed.Results In all 11 patients,CT or MRI could clearly show congested areas of the liver,and the location and degree of HV or IVC obstruction.Of the 11 patients,four with HV obstruction and five with IVC obstruction were treated with stent placement,one with HV obstruction was treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA),one with HV and IVC obstruction was treated with HV PTA and IVC stent placement.Interventional technical success was achieved in all patients.The venous pressure gradient across obstruction was significantly reduced from(16.5±4.1)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)before the procedure to(2.9±1.7)mm Hg after the rocedure(t= 11.5,P＜0.01).Clinical improvement was noted in 10 patients except one pediatric patient who died of multiple-organs failure at the 9 th day after the treatment During the follow-up period of 9 to 672 days,two patients with PTA treatment had recurrent HV stenosis within one month after treatment,no patient with stent placement developed venous restenosis.No major complications occurred during the procedures.Conclusions Stent placement is safe and effective for HV or IVC obstruction after liver transplantation.CT or MRI before treatment is of important value for the diagnosis of congested areas of the liver,and the observation of HV or IVC obstruction.

Objective To evaluate multisliee CT in the diagnosis of biliary complications after liver transplantation. Methods Eighty-three consecutive patients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) presented with clinical or biochemical signs of biliary complications and underwent contrast-enhancement CT examination. Three experienced radiologists, who were blinded to patient's clinical data, assessed CT images for the detection of biliary complications in consensus. Diagnostic confirmation of biliary complications was obtained with direct cholangiography in 69 patients, histologie study in 11 patients and hepatieojejunostomy in 3 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT for the detection of biliary complications were calculated. In addition, CT features of anastomotie biliary stricture (ABS) were compared with those of non-anastomotie biliary stricture (NABS) using x2 test. Results A total of 62 biliary complications (74. 7% ) was eventually confirmed in the 83 patients, including ABS in 32 patients, NABS in 21 patients, biliary duct stones in 16 patients (of which 12 patients with biliary stricture), anastomotie bile leakage in 5 patients, biloma in 4 patients with biliary stricture, and biliogenic abscess in 2 patients with biliary stricture. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT for the detection of biliary stricture were 90. 6%、86. 7%、89. 2%、92. 3% and 83.9% , respectively. Other biliary complications, including biliary duct stones ( 16 cases) , anastomotic bile leak (5 cases) , biloma (4 cases), and biliogenic abscess (2 cases), were correctly diagnosed by CT; there was no false-positive or false-negative result. The incidence of irregular dilatation of bile duct was 71.4% ( 15/21 ), which was significantly higher in NABS cases than in ABS of 25.0% (8/32,P <0. 01 ) ; whereas the incidence of extrahepatie biliary dilatation was 33.3% (7/21) and regular dilatation was 14. 3% (3/21), which was significantly lower in NABS cases than in ABS of 84. 4% ( 27/32 ) and 68. 8% ( 22/32 ), respectively ( P < 0. 01 ). Of 21 patients with NABS, 66. 7% (14/21)complicated with hepatic artery stenosis or thrombosis, which was markedly more than that of NABS cases (15. 6%, 5/32,P <0. 01 ). Conclusions Multislice CT is a useful imaging procedure in the detection of biliary complications after liver transplantation, and biliary stricture can be primitively classified into ABS and NABS by CT. Hepatic artery ischemia is an important factor that causes NABS.

Objective To study the feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PTIPS) in patients with portal hypertension due to chronic portal vein occlusion after splenectomy.Methods 27 patients who had portal hypertension due to chronic portal vein occlusion after splenectomy underwent PTIPS between December 2010 and March 2015.These patients were enrolled in this retrospective study.The success rates,efficacy,and complications were evaluated.Significance in the differences in the portosystemic pressure gradient (PPG) as measured before and after PTIPS procedure was assessed.Results PTIPS was successfully carried out in 25 patients but failed in 2.No fatal procedural complications were observed.The mean PPG dropped from (22.3 ± 5.7) mmHg to (12.4 ± 3.1) mmHg after successful PTIPS (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa,P ＜0.05).The median follow-up in the 25 patients with successful PTIPS were 22 months and there were 3 (12.0％) deaths from liver failure due to severe cirrhosis,and 1 death (4.0％) from stroke during the follow-up period.Shunt dysfunction happened in 4 (16.0％) patients.The original symptoms reoccurred in 2 patients (8.0％) and the remaining patients were diagnosed by routine CT or US examination.Three patients recovered after shunt revision with stent implantation or balloon angioplasty,while one patient refused any further therapy except oral medication.This patient suffered from the first episode of rebleeding 36 months after PTIPS.Hepatic encephalopathy developed in 2 (8.0％) patients,1 patient recovered after medical treatment,while the other who developed Grade 3 hepatic encephalopathy recovered after implanting a smaller cover stent.The remaining patients were asymptomatic with patent shunts.Conclusion PTIPS was a feasible,safe,and efficacious treatment for portal hypertension due to chronic portal vein occlusion after splenectomy.