Original communication

The roentgenologic demonstration of esophageal varices as a diagnostic aid in chronic thrombosis of the splenic vein

Pancreatoduodenectomy with synchronous resection of the portal vein/superior mesenteric vein confluence may result in the development of left-sided portal hypertension. Left-sided portal hypertension presents with splenomegaly and varices and may cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of the study is to review the incidence, treatment, and preventive strategies of left-sided portal hypertension.

A systematic literature search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement to identify all studies published up to September 30, 2019 reporting data on patients with left-sided portal hypertension after pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection.

Eight articles including 829 patients were retrieved. Left-sided portal hypertension occurred in 7.7% of patients who had splenic vein preservation and 29.4% of those having splenic vein ligation. Fourteen cases of gastrointestinal bleeding owing to left-sided portal hypertension were reported at a mean interval of 28 months from pancreatoduodenectomy. Related mortality at 1 month was 7.1%. Treatment of left-sided portal hypertension consisted of splenectomy in 3 cases (21%) and colectomy in 1 (7%) case, whereas radiologic, endoscopic procedures or conservative treatments were effective in the other cases (71%).

Left-sided portal hypertension represents a potentially severe complication of pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection occurring at greater incidence when the splenic vein is ligated and not reimplanted. Left-sided portal hypertension-related gastrointestinal bleeding although rare can be managed depending on the situation by endoscopic, radiologic procedures or operative intervention with low related mortality.

When pancreatic neoplasms occlude or encase the superior mesenteric-portal-splenic vein confluence with abutment of the posterior lateral wall of the superior mesenteric artery, a mesocaval shunt with or without a distal splenorenal shunt allows for safe dissection of the porta hepatis and separation of the pancreatic tumor from the superior mesenteric artery. Herein we report long-term results of the largest known series of portosystemic shunts performed at the time of pancreatectomy.

All patients who underwent pancreatic resection with a mesocaval shunt or distal splenorenal shunt were identified from our prospective database. Demographics, perioperative treatment, and outcomes were reviewed.

A total of 34 patients underwent mesocaval shunt or distal splenorenal shunt, including 25 at the time of pancreatoduodenectomy, 6 during total pancreatectomy, and 3 after prior pancreatectomy. There were 15 mesocaval shunts, 16 distal splenorenal shunts, 2 combined mesocaval/distal splenorenal shunts, and 1 distal splenoadrenal vein shunt. The mesocaval group included 11 temporary and 6 permanent (3 delayed) shunts. Median operative time was 9 hours (range 6.5–13), median estimated blood loss was 950 mL (range 200–5,000), and median duration of hospital stay was 11 days (range 7–35). Four patients experienced complications that required intervention (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III), but there were no 90-day mortalities. For patients with adenocarcinoma, median overall survival was 31 months at a median follow-up of 19 months. All but 1 shunt (distal splenorenal) were patent at last follow-up.

Mesenteric venous shunting facilitates a safe and complete tumor resection in patients who require a complex pancreatectomy, many of whom would otherwise be deemed inoperable.

Sinistral, or left-sided, portal hypertension (SPH) is a rare entity, with multiple potential causes. Gastrointestinal variceal bleeding and hypersplenism are its’ major clinical manifestations. The main aim of the present study is to summarize the clinical features of patients with SPH.

This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with present or previous diagnosis of SHP, observed in a Gastroenterology Department, in a period of 2 years. Patients with clinical, radiological or laboratory alterations suggestive of cirrhosis were excluded. Causes of SPH, clinical manifestations and outcomes were registered. Potential factors associated with gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed.

In the study period a total of 22 patients (male – 17; mean age – 59.6 ± 10.6 years) with SHP were included. Clinical manifestations were: asymptomatic/unspecific abdominal pain (n = 14); gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 8). Eleven (50%) patients had increased aminotransferases, GGT and/or alkaline phosphatase although liver function was normal in all of them. Causes of SPH were chronic pancreatitis (n = 7), acute pancreatitis (n = 7), pancreatic cancer (n = 4), pancreatic surgery (n = 3) and arteriovenous malformation (n = 1). All patients had gastric and/or esophageal varices and seven had splenomegaly. Five (22.7%) had thrombocytopenia, associated with hypersplenism. Five patients (22.7%) were submitted to endoscopic treatment and eight were submitted to splenic artery embolization and/or splenectomy. There were no cases of variceal rebleeding and two patients died. Patients without liver enzymes elevation had a higher probability of gastrointestinal bleeding (87.5% vs. 28.6%; p = 0.024).

Acute and chronic pancreatitis are the major causes of SHP. Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most important clinical manifestation and patients without liver enzyme elevation seem more prone to bleed. Specific treatment is seldom performed or needed.

A hipertensão portal esquerda ou sinistra (HTPS) é uma entidade rara, que pode resultar de diferentes etiologias. A hemorragia gastrointestinal de origem varicosa e o hiperesplenismo são as principais manifestações clínicas. O principal objetivo do presente estudo consiste em estabelecer os achados clínicos mais relevantes num grupo de doentes com HTPS.

Foi efetuada uma análise retrospetiva de um grupo consecutivo de doentes com HTPS diagnosticados ou acompanhados no serviço de Gastrenterologia durante o período de 2 anos. Os doentes com estigmas clínicos, radiológicos ou laboratoriais sugestivos de cirrose hepática foram excluídos. Foram registadas as etiologias, manifestações clínicas, tratamentos e evolução. Também foram analisados potenciais fatores associados com hemorragia digestiva como forma de apresentação.

Neste período foram incluídos 22 doentes (sexo masculino – 17; média etária – 59,6 ± 10,6 anos). As manifestações clínicas foram: assintomático/dor abdominal inespecífica (n = 14); hemorragia gastrointestinal (n = 8). A função hepática era normal em todos os doentes mas 11 (50%) apresentavam uma elevação da enzimologia hepática (aminotransferases, GGT e/ou fosfatase alcalina). As principais etiologias da HTPS foram a pancreatite crónica (n = 7), a pancreatite aguda (n = 7), os carcinomas pancreáticos (n = 4), as cirurgias pancreáticas prévias (n = 3) e uma malformação arterio-venosa (n = 1). Foram identificadas varizes gástricas e/ou esofágicas em todos os doentes e 7 apresentavam esplenomegália. A trombocitopenia, associada ao hiperesplenismo, estava presente em 5 doentes (22,7%). Cinco doentes foram submetidos a tratamento endoscópico e oito foram sujeitos a embolização da artéria esplénica e/ou esplenectomia. Não se verificaram casos de recidiva hemorrágica e ocorreram duas mortes. Os doentes sem alterações da enzimologia hepática foram os mais propensos a apresentar hemorragia gastrointestinal (87,5% vs. 28,6%; p = 0,024).

A pancreatite aguda e a pancreatite crónica são as principais causas da HTPS. A hemorragia gastrointestinal é a manifestação clínica mais relevante e os doentes sem alterações da enzimologia hepática parecem apresentar um risco superior para desenvolver esta complicação. O tratamento específico raramente é necessário/realizado.

Los síntomas que con mayor frecuencia aparecen en el cáncer de páncreas son el dolor abdominal, la pérdida de peso o la ictericia. La hemorragia digestiva alta por rotura de varices gástricas es una entidad mucho menos prevalente en estos pacientes. Este hallazgo requiere descartar siempre la presencia de trombosis de la vena esplénica. Presentamos el caso de un varón joven que acude a urgencias por hematemesis en el que las pruebas diagnósticas acabaron dilucidando un linfoma pancreático primario (LPP) que provocó trombosis de la vena esplénica, circulación colateral y varices gástricas aisladas sangrantes. Hasta hoy no hemos encontrado en la literatura médica ningún LPP que se exprese inicialmente de este modo. Finalmente realizamos una revisión de la literatura médica e incidimos en la importancia de descartar la trombosis de la vena esplénica en pacientes con varices gástricas aisladas y unas nociones acerca del diagnóstico y tratamiento del LPP.

In patients with pancreatic cancer, the most frequent symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss and jaundice. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding produced by gastric varices is a rare entity in these patients and requires the presence of splenic vein thrombosis (SVT) to be excluded. We describe the case of a young man who presented to the emergency department with hematemesis. Diagnostic tests revealed primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL), which provoked splenic vein thrombosis, collateral circulation and the formation of isolated bleeding gastric varices. To date, we have found no reports in the literature of PPL with this form of presentation. Finally, we review the literature, with emphasis on the importance of excluding splenic vein thrombosis in patients with isolated gastric varices, and discuss certain features of the diagnosis and treatment of PPL.