Long-term results of partial splenic artery embolization as supplemental treatment for portal-systemic encephalopathy

To present long-term results of angiographic partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) as a supplemental treatment of portal-systemic encephalopathy.

Twenty-five patients with portal-systemic encephalopathy were divided into two groups: 14 patients underwent transportal obliteration and/or balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of portal-systemic shunts (PSS), followed by PSE (PSE(+) group), and 11 patients underwent only transportal obliteration and/or BRTO of PSS (PSE(-) group).

Portal venous pressures pretreatment was similar to posttreatment in the PSE(+) group, but lower than posttreatment in the PSE(-) group. Serum ammonia levels were higher at pretreatment than at 1 wk posttreatment in both groups, but the levels in the two groups were similar at pretreatment, 1 wk, 3 months, 3 yr, 4 yr, and 5 yr posttreatment. However, serum ammonia levels were lower in the PSE(+) group than in the PSE(-) group 6 months, 9 months, 1 yr, and 2 yr posttreatment. Grades of encephalopathy were higher at pretreatment than at 1 wk posttreatment in both groups, but the levels in the two groups were similar at pretreatment, 1 wk, 2 yr, 3 yr, 4 yr, and 5 yr posttreatment. However, grades of encephalopathy were lower in the PSE(+) group than in the PSE(-) group 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 yr posttreatment.

Obliteration of PSS followed by PSE benefit patients with portal-systemic encephalopathy.