New classification-oriented treatment strategy for portal vein thrombosis after hepatectomy

This study sought to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of portal vein thrombosis after hepatectomy. Furthermore, we proposed a novel classification and treatment strategy for portal vein thrombosis after hepatectomy.

We retrospectively analyzed 398 patients who underwent hepatectomy and enhanced computed tomography imaging within 14 days after surgery in our hospital from 2009 to 2019. Portal vein thrombosis was classified into three categories according to the location of the thrombus - main, hilar, and peripheral - with main portal vein thrombosis further subclassified into three grades. Each patient's treatment strategy was determined based on their portal vein thrombosis classification and grading. From 2015, enhanced computed tomography imaging was performed routinely on patients who underwent anatomical hepatectomy on postoperative day 7.

Portal vein thrombosis was diagnosed in 57 patients (14.3%) during the study period. Multivariate analysis revealed that a Pringle maneuver time of 75 minutes or longer was a significant predictor of portal vein thrombosis (P = .012). In total, 52 patients (91%) with portal vein thrombosis recovered by surgery, anticoagulant therapy, or without specific treatment. There was no instance of mortality recorded.

Patients who undergo hepatectomy are at high risk for portal vein thrombosis, especially when the Pringle maneuver time is long. The proposed classification and treatment strategy may be useful for clinical management of patients with portal vein thrombosis after hepatectomy.