Objective To explore the clinical presentation and diagnosis and treatment of prehepatic portal hypertension （PPH） and discuss its surgical strategies. Methods Forty-six cases of PPH treated in the 2nd Artillery General Hospital and Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to May 2009 were analyzed retrospectively, including 2 cases of Abernethy abnormality. All patients were evaluated by indirect portal vein angiography, CT angiography and (or) portal duplex system Doppler ultrasonography before treament. Surgical strategies included: 23 cases with meso-caval shunt, 8 cases with splenectomy and spleno-renal vein shunt, 1 case with porta-caval shunt, 2 cases with paraumbilical vein-jugular vein shunt, 3 cases with portal azygous disconnection, 1 cases with splenectomy and portal azygous disconnection, 1 case with sigmoidostomy and closed the fistula of sigmoid six months later, 1 case with resection of part of small intestine due to acute extensive thrombosis of portal vein system, 4 cases with selective superior mesenteric artery and (or) splenic artery thrombolytic infusion therapy, 2 cases remained no-surgical option and underwent conservative treatment. Results Forty-four patients were followed-up from 2 months to 5 years， average of 23.4 months, one patient without surgical treatment was lost. Satisfactory outcomes were obtained in 34 patients with various shunts, which expressed as a release of hypersplenism and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Two cases were treated with meso-caval shunt because of rehemorrhage in month 13 and 24 and one died in month 8 after disconnection, one died on day 40 after thrombolytic therapy due to putrescence of intestines, one who remained no-surgical option underwent hemorrhage 4 months later, and then went well by conservative treatment. Conclusion The key of treatment of PPH is to reduce the pressure of hepatic portal vein. Surgical managements of shunt and selective superior mesenteric artery and (or) splenic artery thrombolytic infusion therapy are safe and effective, but individual treatment strategy should be performed.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasound in diagnosing prehepatic portal hypertension. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed to analyze the results of color Doppler ultrasonography in 9 patients with prehepatic portal hypertension diagnosed between June 2012 and January 2015, including vessel diameter, shape, nature and direction of blood flow, and fistula blood flow spectrum. ResultsAmong the 9 patients, the color Doppler ultrasound found 3 patients with regional portal widened, increased and faster blood flow with the emergence of low-impedance spectrum artery, splenic vein widened with returning blocked and flocculent substance within the splenic vein lumen, irregular or streak-shaped low weak echo during splenic vein reduction, and unstable or weakened blood flow velocity. Two patients were confirmed with splenic vein thrombosis by ultrasound and other imaging methods with significantly reduced blood in splenic vein. For the other four patients with regional portal hypertension, obvious abnormalities in portal system were not detected by color Doppler ultrasound, but they were checked with other methods. The ultrasound positive diagnosis of the 9 patients was 5, with 4 missed. ConclusionThe color Doppler ultrasound has some values in screening, diagnosis and follow-up of prehepatic portal hypertension, but it can also be influenced by many factors with a high missed diagnosis rate. Carefully observing the portal system lumen structure, internal echo and blood flow combined with other imaging studies, and emphasizing clinical history of the patients can further improve diagnostic accuracy.