Clinical efficacy of interventional therapy via TIPS approach for the treatment of acute or subacute portal venous thrombosis

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of interventional therapy via TIPS approach for the treatment of acute or subacute portal venous thrombosis (PVT). Methods: Twelve patients with acute or subacute PVT were treated with interventional managements via TIPS approach, including balloon-catheter dilating, PTD pulverizing, catheter-directed aspirating and continuously urokinase infusing. Reopen of the portal vein was observed after the procedure. The stent patency and the relief of the symptoms were followed up for (8 - 42) months. Results: One patient died of massive bleeding in abdominal cavity at the second day after therapy. Reopen of main portal vein was obtained in eleven patients after thrombolysis. Three months after the procedure, PVT recurred and the stent was obstructed in one patient, perhaps due to the discontinuation of anticoagulation. In the remaining 10 patients, the main portal vein and the shunt remained patency during a fellow-up period of (8 ∼ 42) months. No bleeding caused by varicosity or symptoms related to PVT occurred in all patients. Conclusion: Interventional thrombolysis via TIPS approach is an effective therapy for treating patients with acute or subacute portal venous thrombosis. (authors)