Arterioportal fistula causing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding: treatment with a detachable balloon

Endoluminal Management of Arterioportal Fistulae in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience

Transcatheter embolization of arterioportal fistulae in liver transplant recipients is restricted to symptomatic arterioportal fistulae. Angiograms of liver transplant recipients from a single university medical center were retrospectively reviewed. Hemodynamically significant arterioportal fistulae were defined as those exhibiting opacification of the main portal vein of the transplanted hepatic graft or its first order branch with or without portal venous changes by Doppler ultrasound imaging. Six arterioportal fistulae were found. Doppler ultrasound imaging detected 50% of all arterioportal fistulae and all 3 hemodynamically significant arterioportal fistulae. Three successful embolizations were performed. Follow-up (37 to 67 months) demonstrated patent hepatic arteries and no parenchymal ischemic changes with graft preservation. High-throughput arterioportal fistulae may require larger intrahepatic artery branch embolization. There is a window of opportunity for embolizing significant arterioportal fistulae before their progression to large symptomatic, high through-put arterioportal fistulae with their added risk of ischemic changes before and after embolization.

N-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization with blood flow control of an arterioportal shunt that developed after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

We present a case of a patient with rapid deterioration of esophageal varices caused by portal hypertension accompanied by a large arterioportal shunt that developed after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma. We used n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as an embolic material to achieve pinpoint embolization of the shunt, because the microcatheter tip was 2 cm away from the shunt site. Under hepatic arterial flow control using a balloon catheter, the arterioportal shunt was successfully embolized with NBCA, which caused an improvement in the esophageal varices.

Hepatoportal fistula in an 83-year-old male, presenting with hematemesis 52 years after blunt trauma

Hepatoportal arteriovenous fistulae are a rare cause of portal hypertension, which can have significant clinical manifestations. They have multiple etiologies, one of which includes hepatic trauma. We present a case of hepatoportal fistula presenting with bleeding esophageal varices in an 83-year-old man. The exact cause of fistula in this case is not entirely clear; however, hepatic trauma was noted in the patients' history, some 52 years before presentation. We also present a literature review on this rare and interesting phenomenon.

Initial experience of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization during portal vein occlusion for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with marked arterioportal shunts

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) during the corresponding portal vein occlusion (TACE-PVO) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and marked arterioportal (AP) shunts. This was a prospective, nonrandomized study of TACE-PVO in patients with HCC who had marked AP shunts. The subjects were 21 patients with unresectable HCC and marked AP shunts who underwent shunt embolization with the use of coils and/or gelatin-sponge particles (group A: n = 7) or by TACE-PVO (group B: n = 14). Clinical parameters and data on embolization of AP shunts and on tumor response were assessed prospectively. No major procedure-related complication occurred in either group. Effectiveness of AP-shunt treatment was significantly better in group B than in group A in terms of both immediate results (P = 0.009) and subsequent results (P = 0.028). Tumor response in the therapeutic target area was significantly (P = 0.002) better in group B than in group A. Survival was significantly better in group B than in group A (P = 0.008). TACE-PVO may be a safe and useful therapy for selected patients with unresectable HCC and marked AP shunts.

Severe portal hypertension secondary to arterio-portal fistula: salvage surgical treatment

BACKGROUND

Arterio-portal fistulas (APFs) are rare vascular disorders of various origins that can lead to severe portal hypertension. Even if surgery was initially the treatment of choice, more recently, interventional radiological procedures have been considered as the first line therapeutic option.

CASE REPORT

A man with no history of liver disease was admitted for abdominal pain and distension. Abdominal ultrasonography with Doppler, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) scan showed ascites, splenomegaly and a probable APF between the left branches of both the hepatic artery and portal vein, associated with hepatofugal portal flow. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed large oesophageal varices without bleeding. A celiac and mesenteric arteriography and a splenic arteriography were performed and confirmed the existence of multiple intrahepatic APFs. The initial treatment consisted of two sessions of percutaneous transcatheter endovascular embolization. Unfortunately, ascites worsened, and the patient did not respond to diuretic treatment. Therefore, a surgical treatment was considered to be the only suitable treatment because of the absence of improvement after embolization procedures. A left hepatectomy with hepatic artery ligation was performed. Clinical evolution was favourable; an improvement of ascites was obtained; control ultrasonography and CT scan disclosed no residual haemodynamic abnormality; and the portal vein was normal with a hepatopedal flow. Currently, 12 months after surgery, the clinical condition of the patient is good.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous treatment of portal hypertension by embolizing multiple large APF has been described to be an effective method. Nevertheless, failure of such conservative treatment is possible and must lead to a salvage surgery.

Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for the treatment of arteriovenous shunting in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy for the treatment of arteriovenous shunting (AVS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between November 1997 and April 2005, 20 HCC patients with AVS were referred to our department for radiotherapy. The radiation was delivered with 10-15 MV X-ray given 5 days per week at 2 approximately 2.5 Gy per fraction. Total doses ranged from 45 to 64 Gy (median dose 60 Gy). The patients were followed up with color Doppler sonography. When non-invasive imaging suggested obliteration, X-ray angiography was performed to verify the results. Four of the 20 AVS proved to be completely obliterated at X-ray angiography in 1.9, 2.8, 1.8 and 2.9 months after radiotherapy. One of the remaining 16 showed obvious regression on Doppler sonography 0.5 months after radiotherapy, but X-ray angiography was not performed to verify the result. Radiation-related hepatic failure did not occur during the follow-up period. In conclusion, radiotherapy is a treatment alternative for AVS in HCC patients and gives patients with poor prognosis the chance to receive further transcatheter arterial embolization.

A Rare Case of Jejunal Arterio-Venous Fistula: Treatment with Superselective Catheter Embolization with a Tracker-18 Catheter and Microcoils

Arterio-venous fistulas may develop spontaneously, following trauma or infection, or be iatrogenic in nature. We present a rare case of a jejunal arterio- venous fistula in a 35-year-old man with a history of pancreatic head resection that had been performed two years previously because of chronic pancreatitis. The patient was admitted with acute upper abdominal pain, vomiting and an abdominal machinery-type bruit. The diagnosis of a jejunal arterio-venous fistula was established by MR imaging. Transfemoral angiography was performed to assess the possibility of catheter embolization. The angiographic study revealed a small aneurysm of the third jejunal artery, abnormal early filling of dilated jejunal veins and marked filling of the slightly dilated portal vein (13-14 mm). We considered the presence of segmental portal hypertension. The patient was treated with coil embolization in the same angiographic session. This case report demonstrates the importance of auscultation of the abdomen in the initial clinical examination. MR imaging and color Doppler ultrasound are excellent noninvasive tools in establishing the diagnosis. The role of interventional radiological techniques in the treatment of early portal hypertension secondary to jejunal arterio-venous fistula is discussed at a time when this condition is still asymptomatic. A review of the current literature is included.

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.

SCVIR annual meeting film panel session: diagnosis and discussion of case 2: Left hepatic arterioportal fistula

A 65-year-old man with cryptogenic cirrhosis initially underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for variceal bleeding. For the following 16 months, variceal bleeding and intractable ascites persisted despite TIPS revision with variceal embolization. A surgical distal splenorenal shunt was then created, but, although there was initial improvement, intractable ascites recurred. At presentation at a different hospital, the patient gave a history of dyspnea on exertion and orthopnea. Physical examination demonstrated a distended abdomen, consistent with severe ascites, a large right pleural effusion, and bilateral peripheral edema.

Portal hypertension secondary to arterio-portal fistulae: two unusual cases

A 62-year-old male presented with variceal haemorrhage. Investigation demonstrated a fistula between the left gastric artery and portal vein with a porto-systemic gradient of 35 mm Hg. Variceal bleeding was controlled by a transcatheter embolisation of the fistula, but the patient died of septicaemia three weeks later. The second patient, a 42-year-old male who presented with variceal bleeding was shown to have diffuse arterio-venous fistulae involving the right lobe of the liver with a portosystemic gradient of 25 mm Hg. In this case the variceal bleeding was successfully controlled by insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The pathogenesis of portal hypertension in arterioportal fistulae and the role of interventional radiological techniques in the management of variceal bleeding in these patients is discussed.