To predict anastomotic occlusion after splenectomy combined with splenorenal shunt surgery by ultrasound technique.
 Methods: To retrospectively analyze 53 cases of splenectomy combined with splenorenal shunt surgery. We divided these patients into 2 groups: a patency group (n=39) and an occlusion group (n=14), which were based on the results of splenorenal venous anastomotic stoma with spiral CT. The statistical methods were used to analyze the ultrasound detection indicators (the internal diameter, blood flow velocity, blood flow volume, thrombosis and blood flow direction of portal vein, splenic vein, and superior mesenteric vein) for those 2 groups, and then to figure out the predictive factors that affect splenorenal venous anastomotic stoma.
 Results: Compared with the patency group, there are significant broadening of the portal vein diameter, narrowing of the splenic vein diameter, reduction of the splenic vein blood flow velocity, reduction of splenic venous flow volume, splenic vein thrombosis formation and changes of the splenic vein blood flow direction (all P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Ultrasound indicators of portal vein diameter broadening, splenic vein diameter narrowing, splenic vein blood flow velocity reduction, splenic venous flow volume reduction, splenic vein thrombosis formation and change of splenic vein blood flow direction are influential factors for the splenorenal anastomotic occlusion in patients after splenectomy combined with splenorenal shunt surgery.
Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenectomy ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Ultrasonography

During living donor liver transplantation, a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt (SRS) should be addressed to obtain adequate portal inflow. Various procedures such as direct ligation of the SRS, splenectomy, left renal vein ligation (LRVL), and renoportal anastomosis can be applied to treat a large SRS according to the hemodynamics of the portal flow and anatomic conditions. Of these surgical procedures, LRVL is a simple and effective solution for treatment of a large SRS. However, to perform a LRVL, rigorous evaluation of the recipient's anatomic and hemodynamic variations is mandatory. In the present case, we ligated the left renal vein to treat a large SRS, which resulted in an unexpected thrombosis of the left renal vein and remaining portal vein stenosis in the SRS. Therefore, we revised our decisions regarding whether the LRVL was properly applied.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Portal Vein ; Renal Veins* ; Splenectomy ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical* ; Thrombosis

Intervention treatment such as balloon retrograde or anterograde transvenous obliteration has been used for management of refractory hepatic encephalopathy as well as gastric variceal bleeding. Recently, plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration without a help of balloon was newly developed to treat these patients. Here, we report three cases suffering refractory hepatic encephalopathy who were treated with this new technique.
Balloon Occlusion ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hepatic Encephalopathy* ; Humans ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical*

End-stage liver disease is often accompanied by portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and large spontaneous splenorenal shunts (SRS). Recently, renoportal anastomosis (RP-A) of spontaneous splenorenal shunts in liver transplantation was reported as an effective method of portal vein reconstruction in cases of PVT with SRS. Here we report a successful case of RP-A in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). A 46-year-old female with a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt and a portal vein thrombosis propagated to the superior mesenteric vein underwent living donor liver transplantation. At the operation, a side-to-end renoportal anastomosis was done using an interposing cadaveric iliac vein graft. Adequate portal venous blood flow was demonstrated by intraoperative and postoperative Doppler ultrasound studies. She has recovered well with normal graft function and renal function. Renoportal anastomosis for patients with large splenorenal shunts and expansive portal vein thrombosis to the superior mesenteric vein can be an effective and safe technique in patients PV thrombectomy.
Cadaver ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Mesenteric Veins ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Transplants

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analyze the surgical outcome of portal hypertension and explore the risk-factors of long-term survival after operation.

METHODSThe data of 149 patients (male 119, female 30, aged from 19 to 73 years old) with portal hypertension treated surgically from January 1996 to October 2007 was collected. Among these patients, there were 110 patients for Child A and 39 patients for Child B according to Child-Pugh classification. According to different surgical modality, all patients were divided into devascularization group (n = 85) and shunting group (n = 64).

RESULTSThe follow-up rate was 78.8% and the average follow-up time was (46.3 +/- 30.4) months. The overall survival rates of 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-years were 95.6%, 88.7%, 83.4% and 65.1% respectively. Meanwhile the survival rates of 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-years in devascularization group and in shunting group were 95.4%, 87.7%, 80.6%, 56.3% and 95.8%, 90.1%, 86.8%, 72.6% respectively. There was no significant difference in survival rate between these two groups (P > 0.05). Child-Pugh classification has been the most important risk-factor that could influence long-term survival after operation by analysis of COX regression and it showed that the long-term survival time in Child A was longer than in Child B. The re-hemorrhage rates of 1-, 3- and 5-years in shunting group would be much better than in devascularization group. The rate of postoperative encephalopathy in devascularization group and shunting group was 6.9% and 6.1% respectively and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The portal venous pressure and flow of portal vein decreased significantly after shunting operation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mainly sole risk-factor of long-term survival for portal hypertension has been the classification of Child-Pugh, not surgical procedure. The individualized proximal splenorenal shunt is much better than devascularization in controlling variceal hemorrhage.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adequate portal perfusion is essential in liver transplantation. End-stage liver disease is often accompanied by a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt and poor portal flow. To secure an adequate portal perfusion of the graft, collaterals including splenorenal shunt should be interrupted during liver transplantation. However, this procedure is usually too demanding because of massive bleeding, as well as time-consuming. As in living-donor liver transplantation size-matched liver graft and vascular grafts are not always available, an alternative must be sought. We performed living-donor liver transplantation with renoportal anastomosis in a 52 year-old male with a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt. During surgery, left renal vein was divided at the caval junction and the distal stump was end-to-end anastomosed to the graft portal vein using 16 mm interposition polytetrafluoroethylene graft without ligation of collaterals. The initial postoperative course of this patient was uneventful. However, on postoperative day 6 and 12 perihepatic hematoma evacuation and portal vein graft thrombectomy were performed respectively. Since then, adequate portal blood flow and patency of the interposition polytetrafluoroethylene graft was maintained throughout the postoperative period. The patient was discharged with normal graft function 10 weeks after transplantation. Renoportal anastomosis using an interposition polytetrafluoroethylene graft in living-donor liver transplantation could be an acceptable alternative for patients with end-stage liver disease with a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt.
Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Perfusion ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Portal Vein ; Postoperative Period ; Renal Veins ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Thrombectomy ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To determine whether spontaneous a splenorenal shunt can be used as an imaging predictor of early renal hemodynamic changes in patients with cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 82 cirrhotic patients and 41 control subjects. Three-phase CT was performed and CT attenuation values (Hounsfield units) of the renal cortex in three phases were measured to evaluate renal perfusion. Likelihood ratio tests for trend were conducted for age, presence of ascites, and Child's grade. RESULTS: The mean CT attenuation values of the renal cortex in cirrhotic patients were significantly lower than the values of control subjects in three phases: 153.3 +/- 37.9 versus 173.3 +/-25.2 in the arterial phase, 172.6 +/- 41.0 versus 197.6 +/- 26.5 in the portal phase and 136.9 +/- 26.0 versus 152.7 +/- 20.0 in the delayed phase, respectively. The mean CT attenuation value of cortices in patients with renal hypoperfusion was 119.9 +/- 11.8 in the portal phase. Child's class C (aOR: 58.4, 95% CI: 3.6-956.2; p < 0.01) and the presence of a renal shunt (aOR: 7.5, 95% CI: 1.8-30.5; p < 0.01) were associated with renal hypoperfusion. The incidence of renal hypoperfusion was associated with Child's grade (trend: p < 0.01), and not with the grade of ascites or age. CONCLUSION: A dilated spontaneous splenorenal shunt may be a risk factor for renal hypoperfusion in cirrhosis.
Ascites ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Perfusion ; Risk Factors ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical

Chylous ascites is a rare condition caused by various diseases and conditions that interfere with the abdominal or retroperitoneal lymphatics, and uncommonly it can manifest as a post-operative complication after abdominal, retroperitoneal or mediastinal surgery. Chylous ascites can be diagnosed by a high triglyceride content in ascites. The authors experienced a 5-year-old girl with congenital hepatic fibrosis who presented with chylous ascites after a splenorenal shunt operation, who was successfully managed by fasting and total parenteral nutrition, followed by a lipid-free diet with medium chain triglyceride supplementation. Here, the authors report this case of post-operative chylous ascites after a splenorenal shunt (Warren shunt) operation with a review of the pertinent literature.
Ascites ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Chylous Ascites* ; Diet ; Fasting ; Female ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical* ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Splenorenal bypass is a major surgical procedure that's used for the management of renal artery stenosis. Herein, we evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of performing laparoscopic splenorenal bypass in a chronic canine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 12 animals were used for this study. The initial 6 acute animals were used to develop the technique. The remaining 6 surviving animals, which form the basis for this report, were used for a chronic study with up to 2 months follow-up. The renal artery and the distal splenic artery was dissected, its proximal end clamped and its distal end cut and spatulated. An end-to-end anastomosis of the splenic artery and renal artery was performed using only laparoscopic freehand suturing and knot-tying techniques. Upon revascularization, a laparoscopic doppler ultrasound probe was used to document blood flow in the renal artery. Three animals were each followed for 1 month and 2 months, respectively. RESULTS: The total operative time was 297+/-36 min. The mean number of suture bites per anastomosis was 14.3. The only intraoperative complication was hemorrhage from the anastomotic site. Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound documented good blood flow in all 6 animals upon releasing the clamp. At the time of euthanasia, intravenous pyelography (IVP) showed early visualization of the left kidney with prompt drainage in 5 of the 6 surviving animals. In one animal that had two left renal arteries, a distal thrombosis was found despite the patent anastomotic site. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic splenorenal bypass can be performed in a reproducible fashion with using only intracorporeal techniques. We believe that with experience, complex urologic vascular procedures can be laparoscopically performed in the future.
Animals ; Drainage ; Euthanasia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Intraoperative Complications ; Kidney ; Laparoscopy ; Models, Animal ; Operative Time ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Splenic Artery ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical* ; Sutures ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Urography

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and role of ligation of left renal vein (LRV) to avoid portal flow steal to the partial liver graft when living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is performed for the cirrhotic patients with large spontaneous splenorenal shunt (SRS). METHODS: Between 2001 and 2005, 44 portal hypertensive patients with large SRS who underwent ligation of LRV were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: After ligation of LRV, thirty four patients of 44 pateints (77.3%) revealed hypo-attenuation of left kidney on computed tomography but 10 patients (22.7%) showed normal attenuation. Proteinuria and hematuria occurred in 22 patients (50%) and 43 patients (97.7%) respectively after operation, but nearly all of them recovered. Decreased urine outputs (less than 1,000 mL per day) appeared in 4 patients (9.1%), but disappeared after dialysis for 6+/-5.4 days. Serum creatinine increased in 43 patients (97.7%), but decreased to normal range in 40 patients (90.3%). During study period, portal flow steal to the liver graft did not occur after ligation of LRV, and liver regeneration was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: It seems to be a good graft salvage procedure for the portal hypertensive patients who demonstrate large SRS after partial liver engraftment.
Adult* ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Ligation* ; Liver Regeneration ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Proteinuria ; Reference Values ; Renal Veins* ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Transplants