Abstract
In recent years, partial splenic embolization (PSE) has been widely used in patients with cirrhosis and hypersplenism caused by portal hypertension. We investigated the complications associated with PSE cases seen in our hospital. Seventeen cases of liver cirrhosis that had undergone PSE were examined to investigate the complications associated with it. Mean infarcted area of the spleen was 66.2%. Leukocyte and platelet counts in 16 of 17 patients were seen to improve after PSE and persisted for at least one year. The most frequent side effects were abdominal pain (82.4%) and fever (94.1%). Severe side effects were seen in two of those 17 patients. One patient died from acute on chronic liver failure. The other patients contracted bacterial peritonitis and splenic abscess and needed drainage of splenic abscess before recovery. These two cases were in Child-Pugh class B. In conclusions, PSE is a useful treatment for patients with cirrhosis and hypersplenism caused by portal hypertension. However, the possibility of severe complications, especially in patients with noncompensated cirrhosis, should be kept in mind.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Maddison FE: Embolic therapy of hypersplenism. Invest Radiol 8:280–281, 1973
Spigos DG, Mozes OJ, Capek V: Partial splenic embolization in the treatment of hypersplenism. AJR 132:777–782, 1979
Jonasson O, Spigos DG, Mozes MF. Partial splenic embolization: Experience in 136 patients. World J Surg 9:461–467, 1985
Sangro B, Bilbao I, Herrero I, Corella C, Longo J, Beloqui O, Ruiz J, Zozaya JM, Quiroga J, Prieto J: Partial splenic embolization for thetreatment of hypersplenism in cirrhosis. Hepatology 18:309–314, 1993
Murata K, Shiraki K, Takase K, Nakano T, Tameda Y: Long term follow-up for patients with liver cirrhosis after partial splenic embolization. Hepato-Gastroenterol 43:1212–1217, 1996
Hirai K, Kawazoe Y, Yamashita K, Kumagai M, Tanaka M, Sakai T, Inoue R, Eguchi S, Majima Y, Abe M: Transcatheter partial splenic arterial embolization in patients with hypersplenism: A clinical evaluation as supporting therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis. Hepato-Gastroenterol 33:105–108, 1986
Sakata K, Hirai K, Tanikawa K: A long-term investigation of transcatheter splenic arterial embolization for hypersplenism. Hepato-Gastroenterol 43:309–318, 1996
Numata S, Akagi K, Sakino I, Ogata H, Kawadoko T, Suzuki N, Nomiyama K, Tsuji H. Fujishima M: Partial splenic embolization for the treatment of liver cirrhosis with hypersplenism: assessment of clinical response and liver function. Jpn J Gastroenterol 94:526–531, 1997
Castaneda-Zuniga WR, Hammerschmidt DE, Sanchez R, Amplatz K: Non-surgical splenectomy. AJR 129:805–811, 1977
Goldstein HM, Wallace S, Anderson JH, Bree RL, Giantruco C: Transcatheter occlusion of abdominal tumors. Radiology 120:539–545, 1976
Wholey MH, Chamorro H, Rao G, Chapman W: Splenic infraction and spontaneous rupture of the spleen following therapeutic embolization. Cardiovasc Radiol 1:249–253, 1978
Witte CL, Ovitt TW, Van Wyck DB, Witte MH, O'Mara RE, Woolfenden JM: Ischemic therapy in thrombocytopenia from hypersplenism. Arch Surg 111:1115–1121, 1976
Hideya N, Kenji H, Yoshinori A, Kenji S, Kyuichi T: Changes in platelet kinetics after a partial splenic arterial embolization in cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism. Hepatology 22:1682–1689, 1995
Vujic B, Lauver JW: Severe complication from partial splenic embolization in patients with liver failure. Br J Radiol 54:492–495, 1981
Alwmark A, Bengmark S, Gullstrand P, Joelsson B, Lunderquist A, Owman T: Evaluation of splenic embolization in patients with portal hypertension and hypersplenism. Ann Surg 196:518–524, 1982
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sakai, T., Shiraki, K., Inoue, H. et al. Complications of Partial Splenic Embolization in Cirrhotic Patients. Dig Dis Sci 47, 388–391 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013786509418
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013786509418