THE SURGEON'S PERSPECTIVE ON PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Abstract

The article discusses the key aspects of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver cirrhosis. The prevalence of portal vein thrombosis in individuals with liver cirrhosis ranges from 0.6 % to 26 %, with a higher incidence observed in those with decompensated cirrhosis. Symptoms of portal vein thrombosis are often nonspecific. Approximately one-third of patients with this condition experience no symptoms, and the detection of a thrombus is usually an incidental finding during computed tomography or ultrasound examinations.
 Acute portal vein thrombosis is characterized by abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, non-bloody diarrhea, or acute intestinal obstruction when there is symptomatic dilatation of the superior mesenteric vein. On the other hand, chronic portal vein thrombosis manifests through signs of portal hypertension, such as esophageal and gastric bleeding, deterioration of portal gastropathy, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, and significant ascites.
 The first-line treatment for portal vein thrombosis involves the use of direct and indirect anticoagulants. However, their administration necessitates careful consideration of the risk of intraluminal bleeding, the severity of cirrhosis, and the potential benefits of portal vein recanalization. Mechanical thrombectomy can serve as an alternative to long-term anticoagulant therapy for portal vein thrombosis. In cases of portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis, after mechanical thrombectomy and thrombolysis, the placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is often performed.
 To conclude, portal vein thrombosis frequently occurs in patients with liver cirrhosis, and its appearance is challenging to predict due to its multifactorial nature. The preferred initial treatment for acute portal vein thrombosis, in the absence of intraluminal bleeding or intestinal ischemia, involves the use of direct and indirect anticoagulants. Minimally invasive surgical options, such as mechanical thrombectomy, chemical thrombolysis, and TIPS placement (with or without variceal embolization), are currently available. However, due to the heterogeneous nature of the existing data and the lack of randomized controlled trials, definitive recommendations regarding the optimal treatment strategy are not yet available.
 Keywords: cirrhosis, coagulopathy, portal hypertension, portal vein thrombosis, anticoagulants.