[Treatment of portal hypertension by endoscopic esophageal ligation of varicose veins combined with partial splenic embolization].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a new method of endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation combined with partial splenic embolization (EVL-PSE) for the patients with portal hypertension.

METHODS

From May 1999 to February 2003, sixty-eight patients with portal hypertension underwent EVL-PSE, and hemodynamics of the portal trunk (PT), the left gastric vein and azygos vein, including maximum velocity, flow volume, vein diameter, were assessed using color ultrasound Doppler.

RESULTS

The esophageal varices and hypersplenism were greatly ameliorated after operation in patients who had undergone EVL-PSE. Postoperative portal trunk flow volume and velocity were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and flow volume of the left gastric vein as well as the azygos vein were also reduced after operation. During 2 - 24-month follow-up, no recurrent bleeding was found.

CONCLUSIONS

EVL-PSE is less traumatic with less complications, and results in marked eradication of esophageal varices, it can be carried out safely in the clinical treatment for patients with portal hypertension.