Embolization of a giant arterioportal fistula requiring multiple Amplatzer vascular plugs

Hepatic Arterioportal Fistula in Patients with Cirrhosis with Endovascular Management—A Series of 4 Cases with Review of Literature

Hepatic arterioportal fistula (APF) in the setting of cirrhosis may aggravate the preexisting portal hypertension and its complications. Cirrhotic patients undergo various percutaneous invasive procedures and are at risk of developing an APF. These should be diagnosed early and should be treated accordingly at the earliest when indicated. Presently embolization is the treatment of choice with coil embolization as the most commonly used method. We describe four cases from our institute with a history of liver parenchymal disease and were found to have acquired APF on imaging. These were successfully managed with transarterial embolization with resolution or improvement in their clinical symptoms on follow-up. The present case series and review emphasize the importance of APF in the setting of liver parenchymal disease and the role of early diagnosis and therapeutic intravascular interventions.

Endovascular Occlusion of Giant Posttraumatic Pseudo-Aneurysm of Superior Mesenteric Artery Connected to Mesenteric Arteriovenous Fistula

The aim of the study was to show the capabilities of endovascular occlusion of giant posttraumatic pseudo-aneurysm of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) connected to a mesenteric arteriovenous fistula (AVF) under the conditions of portal hypertension and life-threatening esophageal variceal bleeding.

Arterioportal Fistulas (APFs) in Pediatric Patients: Single Center Experience with Interventional Radiological versus Conservative Management and Clinical Outcomes

Arterioportal fistulas (APFs) are uncommon vascular abnormalities with a heterogeneous etiology. In pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), APFs are frequently iatrogenic, following percutaneous liver interventions. The aim of this study was to report the 10-year experience of a tertiary referral center for pediatric OLT in the interventional radiological (IR) and conservative management of acquired APFs. A retrospective search was performed to retrieve pediatric patients (<18 years old) with a diagnosis of APF at color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) from 2010 to 2020. Criteria for IR treatment were the presence of hemodynamic alterations at CDUS (resistive index <0.5; portal flow reversal) or clinical manifestations (bleeding; portal hypertension). Conservatively managed patients served as a control population. Clinical and imaging follow-up was analyzed. Twenty-three pediatric patients (median age, 4 years; interquartile range = 11 years; 15 males) with 24 APFs were retrieved. Twenty patients were OLT recipients with acquired APFs (16 iatrogenic). Twelve out of twenty-three patients were managed conservatively. The remaining 11 underwent angiography with confirmation of a shunt in 10, who underwent a total of 16 embolization procedures (14 endovascular; 2 transhepatic). Technical success was reached in 12/16 (75%) procedures. Clinical success was achieved in 8/11 (73%) patients; three clinical failures resulted in one death and two OLTs. After a median follow-up time of 42 months (range 1–107), successfully treated patients showed an improvement in hemodynamic parameters at CDUS. Conservatively managed patients showed a stable persistence of the shunts in six cases, spontaneous resolution in four, reduction in one and mild shunt increase in one. In pediatric patients undergoing liver interventions, APFs should be investigated. Although asymptomatic in most cases, IR treatment of APFs should be considered whenever hemodynamic changes are found at CDUS.

Coil embolization of arterioportal fistula complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding after Caesarian section: A case report

BACKGROUND

Most intrahepatic arterioportal fistulae (IAPF) are acquired. The few cases of congenital fistulae are diagnosed in infants and children.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 31-year-old female patient presenting with haematemesis and melena three weeks after delivering her second child. The patient had a 20-year history of abdominal distention and nausea. IAPF, along with splenomegaly and ascites, was found by Doppler sonography and confirmed by computed tomography angiography. The patient was treated with endovascular coil embolization, resulting in occlusion of the fistula.

CONCLUSION

This was an unusual case of possible congenital IAPF that manifested during a second pregnancy and was complicated by portal hypertension.

Tratamento endovascular da hipertensão portal e da hemorragia digestiva recorrente e secundária à síndrome da fístula arterioportal: complicação tardia de trauma abdominal penetrante

The arterioportal fistula (APF) syndrome is a rare and reversible cause of pre-sinusoidal portal hypertension, caused by communication between a visceral artery and the portal venous system. Most patients are asymptomatic, but when they do develop symptoms, these are mainly related to gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, congestive heart failure, and diarrhea. This therapeutic challenge presents a case of APF caused by a 20-year-old stabbing injury with unfavorable late clinical evolution, including significant malnutrition and severe digestive hemorrhages. The patient was treated using an endovascular procedure to occlude of the fistula.

Arterial-portal fistula treated with hepatic arterial embolization and portal venous aneurysm stent-graft exclusion complicated by type 2 endoleak

Intrahepatic arterioportal fistulas may be complicated by portal hypertension. An associated portal venous aneurysm (PVA) may impinge upon adjacent structures or rupture. We present a 65-year-old man with an intrahepatic Intrahepatic arterioportal fistula and 6.4 × 5.8 cm right portal vein aneurysm extending within 0.4 cm of the hepatic margin, associated with pain concerning for impending rupture. The PVA was refractory to transarterial embolization due to recruitment of arterial collaterals. Therefore, it was additionally excluded from the portal vein with a 12 mm × 9.5 cm venous stent graft. Although endovascular therapy thrombosed the aneurysm and improved symptoms, it was complicated by a type 2 endoleak into the PVA.