Laparoscopic splenectomy plus preoperative endoscopic variceal ligation versus splenectomy with pericardial devascularization (Hassab's operation) for control of severe varices due to portal hypertension

Efficacy of endoscopic therapy combined with partial splenic embolization versus Hassab's operation for patients with liver cirrhosis with esophageal variceal bleeding and hypersplenism: a multicenter cohort study based on propensity score matching

BACKGROUND

The prognosis comparison between endoscopic therapy + partial splenic embolization (PSE) and Hassab's operation is unclear in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to compare the outcome of endoscopic therapy + PSE (EP) with a combination of splenectomy + pericardial devascularization procedure, known as Hassab's operation (SH) for esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis with hypersplenism.

METHODS

We enrolled 328 patients, including 125 and 203 patients who underwent EP and SH, respectively. Each group consisted of 110 patients after propensity score matching (PSM). Subsequently, we recorded and analyzed bleeding episodes and mortality in 6 months and 1, 2, and 5 years after therapies.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time in the EP and SH groups was 53 and 64 months, respectively. Bleeding incidence 6 months after therapies in the EP group was lower than that in the SH group (1.8% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.010). Additionally, complications in the perioperative period were not significantly different (0% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.008). However, the bleeding rate between the two groups was not significantly different at 1, 2, and 5 years after therapies (7.3% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.157; 10.9% vs. 16.4%, P = 0.205; 30.6% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.801), as well as mortality rate (4.5% vs 7.3%, P = 0.571).

CONCLUSION

Compared with SH therapy, the bleeding rate 6 months after EP therapy was lower, but the long-term bleeding rate was similar.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Esophagogastric Devascularization Versus Endoscopic Varices Ligation Plus Laparoscopic Splenectomy in the Treatment of Portal Hypertension

Background/Aims: To compare laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) plus laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in treating esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) caused by portal hypertension (PH). Methods: Between January 2015 and May 2022, 87 patients with PH caused by hepatitis B cirrhosis were included in the retrospective study (34 in LSED versus 53 in EVL + LS). Results: The clinical features of both groups were well-matched (P > .05). The EVL+LS group was associated with shorter operation time, lower operative blood loss, faster gastrointestinal (GI) recovery, lower C-reactive protein levels, and shorter hospital stays after operation (P < .05). Operative morbidity was more significant in the LSED group (19 55.9% versus 18 33.9%) (P < .05). On postoperative days 1 and 3, albumin levels were remarkably lower (P < .05) in the LSED group. The mean follow-up was 24.3 months for LSED and 26.5 for EVL+LS. Hematological parameters, hepatic functional status, hepatic hemodynamics, and endoscopy indicated a substantial improvement in both groups (P < .05), but no significant difference was identified (P > .05). There was no discernible difference in the incidence of GI bleeding between the two groups (P > .05). Conclusion: EVL+LS is a safer, simpler, and more minimally invasive treatment of EGVB secondary to PH.

A Simple Technique of Tunnel Constructing for Occluding Splenic Vessels During Laparoscopic Splenectomy in Patients with Cirrhosis

Purpose: Dissecting and ligating the splenic artery is crucial for bleeding control during laparoscopic splenectomy (LS). However, for patients with portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis, it is difficult for identification and ligation because the splenic vessel is circuitous and dilated. The aim of this study was to describe a simple technique of constructing a tunnel behind the tail of the pancreas for occluding the splenic vessels during LS in patients with portal hypertension. Materials and Methods: The clinical data of 61 patients who underwent LS from April 2016 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. In 27 patients, the tunnel construction (TC) behind the tail of the pancreas approach was performed owning to difficulty in dissecting and ligating the splenic artery (TC group), including 17 patients who received the TC method directly and 10 patients who received the TC method after trying to dissect the splenic artery. The remaining 34 patients underwent traditional ligating of the splenic artery (LA group). The peri- and postoperative outcomes of operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, postoperative oral diet intake, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complication rate of the two groups were analyzed. All the operations were completed by the same group of surgeons. Results: All 61 operations were successfully completed. Compared with patients in the LA group, patients in the TC group had less blood loss (120.37 ± 40.74 mL versus 162.65 ± 87.47 mL; t = -2.317, P = .024). There was no statistical difference of operative time, conversion rate, complication rate, postoperative hospital stays, and follow-up between the two groups. Conclusions: The technique of constructing a tunnel behind the tail of the pancreas for occluding the splenic vessels was effective and safe in those patients whose splenic artery was difficult to dissect and ligate.

Long-term results of laparoscopic Hassab's procedure for esophagogastric varices with portal hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Recent reports have shown laparoscopic gastric devascularization and splenectomy (Hassab's procedure) to be a safe and effective treatment for esophagogastric varices with portal hypertension. However, the long-term postoperative results remain unclear.

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2015, 17 patients with portal hypertension and esophagogastric varices underwent laparoscopic Hassab's procedure at our institution. Two patients were lost to long-term follow-up (at least 2 years) and excluded. The remaining 15 patients' data and endoscopic findings were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The median postoperative follow-up period was 56 months. The median spleen volume, operation time, blood loss, and length of postoperative hospital stay were 651 (320-1,265) mL, 305 (275-547) minutes, 347 (24-1,131) mL, and 20 (8-41) days, respectively. According to the endoscopic findings 1 year after surgery, the esophagogastric varices disappeared in three patients and improved in 12 patients. The median platelet count was significantly higher 1 year after surgery (19.7 × 10⁴ /dL) than before surgery (5.5 × 10⁴ /dL) (P < .001) and remained stable 2 years after surgery. Two patients died of liver disease. The remaining 13 patients, with a median postoperative follow-up of 57 months, were alive without bleeding from esophagogastric varices.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic Hassab's procedure is a feasible treatment for esophagogastric varices with portal hypertension in terms of both short- and long-term results.

Research on Portal Venous Hemodynamics and Influencing Factors of Portal Vein System Thrombosis for Wilson’s Disease after Splenectomy

Objective

Splenectomy is one crucial solution for hypersplenism with portal hypertension. However, portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) caused by hemodynamic changes affects the prognosis of patients. We analyze the changes in portal vein hemodynamics following splenectomy for Wilson’s disease combined with portal hypertension and the influencing factors that lead to PVST.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, in which 237 Wilson’s disease patients with hypersplenism underwent splenectomy. The hemodynamic indices of the portal vein were monitored before surgery and on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days around surgery. The patients were divided into PVST and non-PVST groups. The clinical factors were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The Logit P was calculated according to the logistic regression prediction model, and the ROC curve for each independent factor was plotted.

Results

The portal vein velocity, flow, and inner diameter showed a downward trend around surgery, with statistically significant differences between each time point (P < 0.01). The PVST incidence rate was 55.7%. Univariate analysis revealed that the platelet (PLT) levels on the postoperative 3rd and 7th days (P = 0.001; P < 0.001), D-dimer (D-D) on the postoperative 7th and 14th days (P = 0.002; P < 0.001), preoperative portal vein velocity, flow, diameter (P < 0.001), and splenic vein diameter (P < 0.001) were all statistically and significantly different between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression revealed a significant increase in PLT on the postoperative 7th day (OR = 1.043, 95% CI, 1.027–1.060, P < 0.001) and D-D on the postoperative 14th day (OR = 1.846, 95% CI, 1.400–2.435, P < 0.001). Preoperative portal and splenic vein diameters (OR = 1.565, 95% CI, 1.213–2.019, P = 0.001; OR = 1.671, 95% CI, 1.305–2.140, P < 0.001) were the risk factors for PVST. However, preoperative portal vein velocity and flow (OR = 0.578, 95% CI, 0.409–0.818, P = 0.002; OR = 0.987, 95% CI, 0.975–0.990, P = 0.046) were protective factors for PVST. Logit P was calculated using a logistic regression prediction model with a cut-off value of −0.32 and an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.952 with 88.61% accuracy.

Conclusions

Splenectomy relieves portal hypertension by reducing the hemodynamics index. PVST is linked to multiple factors, including preoperative portal vein diameter, velocity, flow, and splenic vein diameter, especially PLT on the postoperative 7th day and D-D on the postoperative 14th day. The predictive model is accurate in predicting PVST.

Positive consequences of splenectomy for patients with schistosomiasis-induced variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Patients with hepatic schistosomiasis are at high risk of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, which is highly torrential and life threatening. This study aimed to assess the effects of splenectomy on patients with schistosomiasis-induced variceal bleeding, especially those influences related to overall survival (OS) rate.

METHODS

From January 2005 to December 2018, 112 patients with schistosomiasis-induced varices were enrolled. In that period, all the patients with hepatic schistosomiasis who received endoscopic treatment for primary and secondary prophylaxis of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding were found eligible. The patients were divided into splenectomized group (n = 44, 39.3%) and control group (n = 68, 60.7%).

RESULTS

Multivariate regression analysis of OS showed that splenectomy, hepatic carcinoma, and times of endoscopic treatment were independent prognostic factors for OS. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the 5-year OS rate was 82.7% in splenectomized group versus 53.2% in control group (P = 0.037). The rate of no recurrence of variceal bleeding during 5-year (56.8% vs. 47.7%, P = 0.449) indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Patients who received splenectomy had increased risk of portal vein thrombosis (52.3% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.012) and decreased proportion of severe ascites (20.5% vs 50.0%, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Splenectomy prior to endoscopic treatment provides a superior long-term survival for patients with schistosomiasis-induced variceal bleeding.

Combined Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Esophagogastric Devascularization versus Open Splenectomy and Esophagogastric Devascularization for Portal Hypertension due to Liver Cirrhosis

This study was conducted to compare the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of the combined-laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (C-LSED) with open splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization surgery (OSED) in patients with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. From February 2014 to June 2018, 68 patients with portal hypertension were diagnosed as having serious gastroesophageal varices and/or hypersplenism in our center. Thirty patients underwent C-LSED and 38 patients received OSED. Results and outcomes were compared retrospectively. No patients of C-LSED group required an intraoperative conversion to open surgery. Significantly shorter operating time, less blood loss, lower transfusion rates, shorter postoperative hospital stay, lower rates of complications were found in C-LSED group than in C-LSED group (P<0.05). No death and rebleeding were documented in both groups during the follow-up periods of one year. Postoperative endoscopy revealed that varices in the patients of both groups were alleviated significantly from severe to mild, and in a part of cases, the varices disappeared. The final results suggest that the C-LSED technique is superior to open procedure, due to slightly invasive, simplified operative procedure, significantly shorter operating time, less intraoperative bleeding and lower post-operative complication rates. And C-LSED offers comparable long-term effects to open surgery.

Comparison of Efficacy of Laparoscopic and Open Splenectomy Combined With Selective and Nonselective Pericardial Devascularization in Portal Hypertension Patients

BACKGROUND

Recent advances in laparoscopic techniques have demonstrated that laparoscopy is superior for managing portal hypertension. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic splenectomy plus selective pericardial devascularization (LSSD) and open splenectomy and nonselective pericardial devascularization (OSD) in patients with portal hypertension.

METHODS

A total of 127 patients with portal hypertension underwent either LSSD or OSD at Jingzhou Central Hospital from January 2014 to December 2016. A total of, 55 patients received LSSD, including 29 male and 26 female individuals (age, 56.0±11.6 y); 72 patients received OSD, including 45 male and 27 female individuals (age, 53.4±10.9 y). The parameters of operation and outcomes were measured and compared.

RESULTS

Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, and hospital stay were significantly lower in LSSD group but operation time was significantly lower in OSD group. Postoperative Child-Pugh score was significantly lower in LSSD group than in OSD group.

CONCLUSIONS

LSSD is a safe and effective treatment for liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension.

Prior Esophagogastric Devascularization Followed by Splenectomy for Liver Cirrhosis with Portal Hypertension: A Modified Laparoscopic Technique

Purpose

This study was conducted to introduce a novel modified surgical technique for laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) and its safety and efficiency.

Methods

From June 2016 to November 2017, 86 patients were diagnosed with portal hypertension and serious gastroesophageal varices in our center. Of them, 32 patients underwent LSED and 54 received the modified LSED. Results and outcomes were compared retrospectively.

Results

There were no significant differences in preoperative patient characteristics of the two groups. No intraoperative deaths took place in both groups. The intraoperative blood loss was apparently less in the M-LSED group (P < 0.05). There was no conversion in the M-LSED group; four patients receiving LSED were converted to hand-assisted LSED due to profuse bleeding during operation (P < 0.05). Operation time was significantly shorter in the M-LSED group (P < 0.05). Otherwise, postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the M-LSED group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study showed that the modified LSED was a safe and effective approach with low conversion rate, less intraoperative bleeding, less blood transfusion, and shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay compared with classical LSED. Moreover, this technique is relatively easy and technically feasible.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis 2015

The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology revised the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis in 2015. Eighty-three clinical questions were selected, and a literature search was performed for the clinical questions with use of the MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases for the period between 1983 and June 2012. Manual searching of the latest important literature was added until August 2015. The guidelines were developed with use of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. This digest version in English introduces selected clinical questions and statements related to the management of liver cirrhosis and its complications. Branched-chain amino acids relieve hypoalbuminemia and hepatic encephalopathy and improve quality of life. Nucleoside analogues and peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy improve the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus related liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C related compensated liver cirrhosis, respectively, although the latter therapy may be replaced by direct-acting antivirals. For liver cirrhosis caused by primary biliary cirrhosis and active autoimmune hepatitis, urosodeoxycholic acid and steroid are recommended, respectively. The most adequate modalities for the management of variceal bleeding are the endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices and the balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration following endoscopic obturation with cyanoacrylate for gastric varices. Beta-blockers are useful for primary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal bleeding. The V2 receptor antagonist tolvaptan is a useful add-on therapy in careful diuretic therapy for ascites. Albumin infusion is useful for the prevention of paracentesis-induced circulatory disturbance and renal failure. In addition to disaccharides, the nonabsorbable antibiotic rifaximin is useful for the management of encephalopathy. Anticoagulation therapy is proposed for patients with acute-onset or progressive portal vein thrombosis.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Azygoportal Disconnection: a Systematic Review

Background and Objectives:

Given the technical difficulty of laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD), data are limited that compare the laparoscopic to the open procedure. As the technique becomes more widespread, questions regarding its safety, feasibility, and reproducibility must be addressed. This review assesses the current status of LSD.

Methods:

We conducted our literature review with a search of the PubMed database. All published series of 5 or more laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection procedures were examined. The demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative data analyzed included number of ports, conversion rate, operative duration, estimated intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and complications.

Results:

Fifteen articles met the review criteria. Of 412 laparoscopic procedures, traditional laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (TLSD) was used in 322 patients (78.2%), a modified laparoscopic procedure (MLSD) in 79 (19.2%), and a single-incision laparoscopic procedure (SLSD) in 11 (2.7%). Compared with the traditional and single-incision laparoscopic procedures, the MLSD procedure was associated with shorter operative duration and less blood loss. Furthermore, although the incidence of postoperative portal vein system thrombosis was higher in the laparoscopic than in the open splenectomy with azygoportal disconnection (OSD) procedure, the LSD procedure was associated with less pulmonary infection and pleural effusion and fewer incisional and overall complications than the open procedure. The rate of conversion to an open procedure was 5.4%.

Conclusions:

LSD is feasible and safe for selected patients when performed by an expert laparoscopic surgeon. It has perioperative advantages over OSD, but studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples of patients are needed.

Clinical application of fast-track surgery with Chinese medicine treatment in the devascularization operation for cirrhotic portal hypertension

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical effect of fast-track surgery combined with Chinese medicine treatment in devascularization operation for cirrhotic esophageal varices.

METHODS

Seventy-two patients with cirrhotic esophageal varices were selected from January 2009 to June 2013, and randomly assigned to a conventional group and a fast-track group (fast-track surgery combined with Chinese medicine treatment) using a randomized digital table, 36 cases in each group. Operation and anesthesia recovery time, postoperative hospitalization and quality of life were recorded and compared between groups during the perioperative period.

RESULTS

Compared with the conventional group, the fast-track group had longer operation time (253.6±46.4 min vs. 220.6±51.0 min) and anesthesia recovery time (50.5±15.9 min vs. 23.5±9.6 min; P<0.01); less bleeding (311.3±46.8 mL vs. 356.2±57.5 mL; P<0.01) and less transfusion (1932.3±106.9 mL vs. 2045.6±115.4 mL; P<0.01); as well as faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, shorter postoperative hospitalization and higher quality of life. There were no serious postoperative complications and no further bleeding occurred.

CONCLUSION

Fast-track surgery combined with Chinese medicine treatment is a safe and feasible approach to accelerate the recovery of patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension in perioperative period of devascularization operation.