Management of idiopathic obstruction of the hepatic and suprahepatic inferior vena cava with a self-expanding metallic stent

A Systematic Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Inferior Vena Cava Stenting

OBJECTIVE

Inferior vena cava (IVC) stenting may provide benefit to patients with symptomatic obstruction; however, there are no devices currently licensed for use in the IVC and systematic reviews on the topic are lacking. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis to investigate the safety and efficacy of IVC stenting in all adult patient groups.

DATA SOURCES

The Medline and Embase databases were searched for studies reporting outcomes for safety and effectiveness of IVC stenting for any indication in series of 10 or more patients.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was carried out according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies were included describing 1 575 patients. Indications for stenting were malignant IVC syndrome (229 patients), thrombotic disease (807 patients), Budd-Chiari syndrome (501 patients), and IVC stenosis post liver transplantation (47 patients). The male:female ratio was 2:1 and the median age ranged from 30 to 61 years. The studies included were not suitable for formal meta-analysis as 30/33 were single centre retrospective studies with no control groups and there was considerable inconsistency in outcome reporting. There was significant risk of bias in 94% of studies. Median reported technical success was 100% (range 78 - 100%), primary patency was 75% (38 - 98%), and secondary patency was 91.5% (77 - 100%). Major complications were pulmonary embolism (three cases), stent migration (12 cases), and major bleeding (15 cases), and there were three deaths in the immediate post-operative period. Most studies reported improvement in clinical symptoms but formal reporting tools were not used consistently.

CONCLUSION

The evidence base for IVC stenting consists of predominantly single centre, retrospective, observational studies that have a high risk of bias. Nonetheless the procedure appears safe with few major adverse events, and studies that reported clinical outcomes demonstrate improvement in symptoms and quality of life. Randomised controlled trials and prospective registry based studies with larger patient numbers and standardised outcome are required to improve the evidence base for this procedure.

Inferior Vena Cava Reconstruction in Symptomatic Patients Using Palmaz Stents: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

The use of stents for treating central venous occlusion is well described. Limited evidence exists related to Palmaz balloon-expandable stent use in inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction. We analyzed patency and complication rates after IVC reconstruction using Palmaz stents.

METHODS

From 2002 to 2019, 37 patients (mean age: 51 year) underwent IVC reconstruction with 68 Palmaz stents. Indications were symptomatic chronic venous obstruction in the infrarenal (n = 25) and intrahepatic (n = 12) IVC. Demographic, operative, and imaging data were evaluated. Clinical data, abdominal CT, and/or duplex ultrasound were used to determine patency at follow-up.

RESULTS

Restoration of caval patency was achieved in all patients, with complications in 2/37 (5.4%) patients (thrombus formation within the stent; stent embolization eight days after placement). Follow-up data were available for 27 patients. Primary patency was maintained through last follow-up in 19/27 (70%) patients (mean: 1.1 year), with successful stent redilation performed in 6 patients. Mean duration of primary-assisted patency (n = 5) was 1.2 year. Late lumen loss was (n = 13) was 40% during a mean time to follow-up of 2.0 years. Primary patency in patients with occlusion secondary to malignancy was 109 day (range: 1 day-1.0 year), whereas primary patency in patients with occlusion from other etiologies was 1.1 year (range: 2 day-5.9 year). The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated primary and primary-assisted patency of 66% and 84%, respectively, at 24 and 48 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Palmaz balloon-expandable stents for IVC reconstruction is feasible and effective for symptomatic IVC occlusion. Risk of stent migration was low.

Inferior vena cava obstruction: long-term results of endovascular management

BACKGROUND

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) can have acute or chronic presentation. In the chronic variety of inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction, endovascular management with balloon angioplasty and stent implantation has emerged as a feasible, safe alternative to surgery which has high incidence of mortality and morbidity.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To study the feasibility and long-term follow-up of endovascular management of chronic IVC obstruction.

METHODS

We studied 12 cases of HVOO who underwent endovascular management (balloon dilatation ± stenting). In most of the cases, the cause of obstruction was not obvious, but one case had metastatic hepatic nodules compressing on IVC. Diagnosis was established by clinical examination, venous Doppler and was confirmed by venography and/or computed tomography (CT) angiography. Cases underwent balloon dilatation and/or stenting.

RESULTS

Out of 12 cases, six had membranous obstruction (four complete and two incomplete), five cases had segmental stenosis and one case had tumour compression. The lesion was crossed with either guide wire or Brockenbrough needle with Mullins sheath assembly and balloon dilatation was done with Inoue or Mansfield balloon. Seven cases underwent balloon dilatation alone while five cases underwent stenting. There was procedural success in all cases with reduction of gradient by 84%, disappearance of collaterals and clinical improvement. During the follow-up of 13 years, one case had restenosis, which was managed by stenting.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular management of IVC obstruction is safe with good long-term patency rates.

Current role of surgery in portal hypertension

Treatment for portal hypertension (PHT) has evolved from surgery being the only option during the 1970s to the wide range of options currently available. Surgery has not vanished from the therapeutic armamentarium, but its role has changed and is constantly evolving. The present review primarily focuses on the role of surgery in tackling patients with PHT and varices with regard to the Indian scenario and also looks at its relevance, given the availability of a host of other therapeutic options.

Successful metallic stent placement for recurrent stenosis after balloon angioplasty of membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava

A 23 year-old Taiwanese male presented with complete membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava at its suprahepatic portion. After 3 angioplasty procedures using Inoue-balloon catheters, a Wall stent was deployed for restenosis 4 years after the first procedure. Venography at 6 months showed no significant restenosis. At 20 months transfemoral venography confirmed patency of the vena cava.

Focal elastic obstruction of the inferior vena cava

Obstruction of the supra-hepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) is a common cause of hepatic venous hypertension and the most common cause of Budd-Chiari Syndrome. Because most cases of IVC obstruction go undiagnosed until Budd-Chiari Syndrome develops, the natural history of IVC obstruction is not well defined. We report a case of a focal, elastic, non-membranous obstruction of the IVC causing hepatic venous hypertension and elevated serum transaminases in a 36-year-old man. The obstruction was successfully treated with placement of a self-expanding metallic stent with normalization of hepatic transaminases.

Chronically occluded inferior venae cavae: endovascular treatment

PURPOSE

To report the results of endoluminal recanalization and stent placement in patients with chronic occlusions of the inferior vena cava (IVC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventeen consecutive patients (12 male, five female patients; mean age, 40.6 years; age range, 15-77 years) with chronic IVC occlusions were treated during a 6-year period. The mean duration of symptoms was 32 months. Underlying active malignancy was the cause of occlusion in four patients. Five patients with superimposed acute thrombus underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis prior to IVC recanalization. Clinical patency was defined as absence or improvement of symptoms. Clinical follow-up was supplemented with ultrasonography, vena cavography, or both in 10 patients.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 15 (88%) patients. Additional thrombolytic therapy and stent placement was needed in two patients to maintain patency at 4 and 6 months after the procedure. Twelve patients had IVCs that remained patent after a mean follow-up of 19 months for a primary patency rate of 80%. The primary assisted patency rate was 87% (13 of 15). There were four deaths owing to underlying disease 6-21 months after the procedures. There were no procedure-related complications.

CONCLUSION

Endoluminal recanalization and stent placement in chronically occluded IVCs has a good intermediate-term outcome and should be considered in patients who have symptoms and who often do not have adequate alternative therapy.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Many options are available to diagnose and treat patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome who present with either thrombotic or non-thrombotic occlusion of the major hepatic veins and or vena cava. The goal of therapy is to alleviate venous obstruction and to preserve hepatic function. Low-sodium diets, diuretics, and therapeutic paracentesis are generally ineffective, except for the rare patient who presents with volume overload and incomplete hepatic venous occlusion. Anticoagulants and thrombolytics may be appropriate for selected patients with acute thrombotic venous obstruction. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of hepatic venous stenoses or caval webs with or without placement of intraluminal stents yield excellent short-term results, but additional studies are warranted to assess long-term efficacy. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) may be effective for patients with subacute or chronic disease and ascites refractory to sodium restriction and diuretics. Intrahepatic stents may also serve as a bridge to transplantation for selected patients presenting with fulminant hepatic failure consequent to hepatic venous occlusion. Additional studies will be necessary to assess the role of TIPS in the armamentarium of therapies for patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome. Decompressive shunts, reconstruction of the vena cava and hepatic venous ostia, transatrial membranotomy, and dorsocranial resection of the liver with hepatoatrial anastomosis are appropriate options for patients with acute or subacute disease who are not candidates for, or fail less invasive therapies. The majority of patients benefit with improvement in liver function tests, ascites, and liver histology; however, hepatic function may deteriorate in patients with marginal reserve. Liver transplantation is reserved for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who present with fulminant hepatic failure or end-stage liver disease with portal hypertensive complications. Transplantation is also appropriate for patients who deteriorate after failed attempts at surgical shunting.

Blocking of the hepatic vein outflow by neointima covering a wallstent across a membranous stenosis of the inferior vena cava

A 31-year-old man presented with idiopathic membranous obstruction of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) and was treated by balloon dilation and placement of a Wallstent. The patient improved markedly. However, he developed obstruction of the hepatic vein outflow secondary to neointima formation over the stent that covered the hepatic vein ostia. The patient died of liver failure and septicemia. We believe that this is the first report of such a serious complication.