Comparison of Two Different Percutaneous Splenic Artery Interventions in the Treatment of Hypersplenism: Preliminary Report

Abstract

Background Splenomegaly and hypersplenism occur in patients with chronic liver disease and liver transplant recipients. The traditional treatment for hypersplenism is surgical removal. Percutaneous interventional methods, such as partial splenic embolization, are alternatives to surgery for hypersplenism. This article gives preliminary findings for a new percutaneous technique in which a narrowed stent is placed in the splenic artery. Methods The study focused on 10 patients (eight males and two females) who were treated for hypersplenism. Partial splenic embolization was performed in six patients (age range, 1–43 years) who were waiting for liver transplantation, and narrowed stents were placed in four patients (age range, 12–47 years) who had undergone either orthotopic two patients) or heterotopic two patients) liver transplantation. For embolization, the splenic artery was catheterized and polyvinyl alcohol particles were infused to the distal branches, reducing blood flow in the spleen by 40% to 50%. In the other cases, a narrowed stent was deployed to the middle portion of the splenic artery. Results Hypersplenism was successfully treated in all 10 cases. Compared with partial splenic embolization, placement of narrowed stents was associated with lower frequencies of postintervention fever and pain, shorter hospital stay, and decreased need for antibiotics. In addition to treating hypersplenism, narrowed-stent placement also completely resolved splenic artery steal syndrome in the two patients (orthotopic liver transplant recipients) with this condition. Conclusion Percutaneous placement of a narrowed stent in the splenic artery is a promising new technique for treating hypersplenism and splenic arterial steal syndrome.