Comparison of long-term effects between intra-arterially delivered ethanol and Gelfoam for the treatment of severe arterioportal shunt in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To evaluate long-term effect of ethanol embolization for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with severe hepatic arterioportal shunt (APS), compared with Gelfoam embolization.METHODS:Sixty-four patients (ethanol group) and 33 patients (Gelfoam group) with HCC and APS were respectively treated with ethanol and Gelfoam for APS before the routine interventional treatment for the tumor. Frequency of recanalization of shunt, complete occlusion of the shunt,side effects, complications, and survival rates were analyzed between the two groups.RESULTS: The occlusion rate of APS after initial treatment in ethanol group was 70.3%(45/64), and recanalization rate of 1 month after embolization was 17.8%(8/45),and complete occlusion rate was 82.8%(53/64).Those in Gelfoam group were 63.6%(21/33), 85.7%(18/21), and 18.2%(6/33).There were significant differences in recanalization rate and complete occlusion rate between the two groups (P<0.05).The survival rates in ethanol group were 78% at 6 months,49% at 12 months, 25% at 24 months, whereas those in Gelfoam group were 58% at 6 months, 23% at 12 months,15% at 24 months.The ethanol group showed significantly better survival than Gelfoam group (P<0.05). In the ethanol group, there was a significant prolongation of survival in patients with monofocal HCC (P<0.05) and Child class A (P<0.05).There were no significant differences in survival rate in the Gelfoam group with regard to the number of tumor and Child class (P>0.05). The incidence rate of abdominal pain during procedure in ethanol group was 82.8%.There was no significant difference in postembolization syndromes between two groups. Procedure-related hepatic failure did not occur in ethanol group.CONCLUSION: Ethanol embolization for patients with HCC and severe APS is efficacious and safe, and may contribute to prolongation of the life span versus Gelfoam embolization.

Portal venous stent placement for treatment of portal hypertension caused by benign main portal vein stenosis

AIM: To evaluate the value of endovascular stent in the treatment of portal hypertension caused by benign main portal vein stenosis.METHODS: Portal vein stents were implanted in six patients with benign main portal vein stenosis (inflammatory stenosis in three cases, postprocedure of liver transplantation in another three cases). Changes in portal vein pressure, portal vein patency, relative clinical symptoms, complications, and survival were evaluated.RESULTS: Six metallic stents were successfully placed across the portal vein stenotic or obstructive lesions in six patients. Mean portal venous pressure decreased significantly after stent implantation from (37.3±4.7) cm H2O to (18.0±1.9) cm H2O. The portal blood flow restoredand the symptoms caused by portal hypertension were eliminated. There were no severe procedure-related complications. The patients were followed up for 1-48 mo. The portal vein remained patent during follow-up. All patients survived except for one patient who died of other complications of liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous portal vein stent placement for the treatment of portal hypertension caused by benign main portal vein stenosis is safe and effective.