Repeated partial splenic artery embolization for hypersplenism improves platelet count

Abstract

Splenic embolization is a minimally invasive alternative to splenectomy for the treatment of hypersplenism. This was a retrospective study of 101 patients with hypersplenism caused by cirrhosis who were treated with splenic embolization and for whom 6 months of follow-up data were available. Of these patients, 65 underwent partial splenic artery embolization (PSE), including 23 who underwent repeated PSE (RPSE). The incidence of abdominal pain was significantly higher in the PSE group than in the total splenic artery embolization (TSE) group (P 0.05). There was a significant intergroup (PSE and RPSE) difference in the mean postoperative change in PLT count (P = 0.45). Splenic embolization can improve the inflammatory indicators of liver function. Performing PSE twice or more improves the PLT counts.

Keywords

• partial splenic embolization
• platelet count
• side effect
• splenic abscess
• liver function