Aetiology and management of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in children: King's College Hospital experience

Etiology and long-term outcome of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in children

AIM: To study the management and outcome of children with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) in a whole country population.

METHODS: A nationwide multicenter retrospective case series of children with EHPVO was conducted. Data on demographics, radiographic studies, laboratory workup, endoscopic and surgical procedures, growth and development, were extracted from the patients’ charts. Characteristics of clinical presentation, etiology of EHPVO, management and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS: Thirty patients, 13 males and 17 females, 19 (63.3%) Israeli and 11 (36.7%) Palestinians, were included in the analysis. Age at presentation was 4.8 ± 4.6 years, and mean follow-up was 4.9 ± 4.3 years. Associated anomalies were found in 4 patients. The incidence of EHPVO in Israeli children aged 0-14 years was 0.72/million. Risk factors for EHPVO were detected in 13 (43.3%) patients, including 9 patients (30%) with perinatal risk factors, and 4 patients (13.3%) with prothrombotic states: two had low levels of protein S and C, one had lupus anticoagulant, and one was homozygous for methyltetrahydrofolate reductase mutations. In 56.6% of patients, no predisposing factors were found. The most common presenting symptoms were an incidental finding of splenomegaly (43.3%), and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (40%). No differences were found between Israeli and Palestinian children with regard to age at presentation, etiology and clinical symptoms. Bleeding occurred in 18 patients (60%), at a median age of 3 years. Sclerotherapy or esophageal banding was performed in 20 patients. No sclerotherapy complications were reported. Portosystemic shunts were performed in 11 patients (36.6%), at a median age of 11 (range 3-17) years: splenorenal in 9, mesocaval in 1, and a meso-Rex shunt in 1 patient. One patient underwent splenectomy due to severe pancytopenia. Patients were followed up for a median of 3 (range 0.5-15) years. One patient died aged 3 years due to mucopolysaccharidase deficiency type III. None of the patients died due to gastrointestinal bleeding.

CONCLUSION: EHPVO is a rare disorder. The etiological factors are still mostly unknown, and the endoscopic and surgical treatment options ensure a good long-term prognosis.

Paediatric chronic liver diseases: how to investigate and follow up? Role of imaging in the diagnosis of fibrosis

Chronic liver diseases are rare in children, but encompass a wide spectrum of disorders that may all be complicated by liver fibrosis and therefore by portal hypertension. They may be classified according to the level of portal flow obstruction: prehepatic, intrahepatic or suprahepatic. Most of them, except presinusoidal diseases, may progress to cirrhosis that carries additional risks of impaired liver function and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Imaging plays an important role in guiding the diagnosis and biopsy and for follow-up during treatment. US, with high-frequency transducers and Doppler, is the first modality of choice, directs the rest of the investigations and guides interventional radiology. MDCT has made great progress and has replaced angiography for diagnostic purposes. MRI is indicated for parenchyma and nodule characterization and for biliary tract evaluation. To avoid liver biopsy, several elasticity imaging techniques have been developed and have to be evaluated for accuracy and convenience in children. The role of each modality with main imaging findings is described in extrahepatic portal vein obstruction, hepatoportal sclerosis, congenital hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Modified technique of meso-Rex shunt in case of insufficient length of the jugular vein graft

Meso-Rex shunt (MRS) can relieve portal hypertension and restore a physiological portal flow in patients with portal vein thrombosis. We describe a technical variant where the autologous internal jugular vein (IJV) was too short to bridge the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and the Rex recessus.

PATIENT

A 15-year-old boy with portal cavernoma had several episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding despite repeated sclerotherapy. Preoperative assessment, including retrograde transjugular portography, showed persistent esophageal and gastric varices, severe hypertensive gastropathy, obstructed portal vein, patent SMV and splenomesenteric confluence, patent intrahepatic portal branches, and normal transhepatic pressure gradient. An MRS was planned. The left IJV was retrieved from its infracranial part to its confluence with subclavian vein. After performing the Rex recessus to IJV graft anastomosis, the IJV graft proved to be too short for classical end-to-side anastomosis onto the SMV. After clamp testing showing good tolerance of the small bowel, the proximal jejunal branches of the SMV were tied, the proximal SMV was mobilized and transsected 4 cm below the pancreas, and an end-to-end anastomosis between SMV and IJV was performed. Portal pressure decreased from 23 to 13 mm Hg, and intraoperative Ultra Sound Doppler (US Doppler) showed good flows in the shunt. Postoperative course was uneventful, and 1 year after surgery, the child is clinically well, off medication, with a patent shunt, and no portal hypertension.

CONCLUSION

This modified MRS technique may be useful when the autologous IJV graft is too short, avoiding the need for prosthetic conduits and prolonged postoperative anticoagulation.