E-ISSN: 1305-3612
    Efficacy and safety of splenic artery embolization for intractable ascites using Amplatzer vascular plug versus coil after living donor liver transplantation
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    Interventional Radiology - Original Article
    VOLUME: 28 ISSUE: 5
    P: 478-485
    September 2022

    Efficacy and safety of splenic artery embolization for intractable ascites using Amplatzer vascular plug versus coil after living donor liver transplantation

    Diagn Interv Radiol 2022;28(5):478-485
    DOI: 10.5152/dir.2022.21027
    Chih-Ying Lee 1
    Wei-Xiong Lim 1
    Chao-Long Chen 2
    Chee-Chien Yong 2
    Chun-Yen Yu 1
    Leo Leung-Chit Tsang 1
    Hsien-Wen Hsu 1
    Yu-Fan Cheng 1
    Hsin-You Ou 1
    1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    2. Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    No information available.
    No information available
    Received Date: 27.01.2021
    Accepted Date: 27.07.2021
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    ABSTRACT

    PURPOSE

    Intractable ascites (IA) is an uncommon but challenging complication after liver transplantation. Splenic artery embolization (SAE) modulates the splenic artery and regulates portal flow. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SAE using the Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) versus coil embolization for post-living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) IA.

    METHODS

    This retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients from 1 center who received LDLT (n=1410) between March 2006 and August 2019. The inclusion criteria for SAE were splenomegaly with IA after LDLT.

    RESULTS

    Totally 15 patients underwent SAE for post-LDLT IA. Eleven patients who received AVP embolization (age, 51.2 ± 15.1 years; range, 8-63 years; 5 men and 6 women) were compared with 4 patients receiving coil embolization (age, 30.8 ± 30.8 years; range, 1.5-63 years; 2 men and 2 women). AVP and coil embolization both significantly reduced portal vein hyperflow (plug/ coil; P <.001/.006) and decreased ascites volume (plug/coil; P <.003/.042). The benefits of AVP embolization included shorter procedure time (P =.029), significantly reduced splenic volume (P =.012), increased liver volume (P =.012), decreased spleen/liver ratio (P =.012), and improvement of pancytopenia (P =.008) due to secondary hypersplenism. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the length of hospital stay or complications such as splenic infarction, pancreatitis, or sepsis.

    CONCLUSION

    SAE using AVP and coil embolization provide effective and safe methods for managing patients with IA after LDLT. AVP embolization may be more efficient than coil embolization, providing more effective reduction of ascites volume and the advantages of shortened procedure time and improvement of hypersplenism.

    Keywords:

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