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“Splenic artery steal syndrome” is a misnomer: The cause is portal hyperperfusion, not arterial siphon
Author(s) -
Quintini Cristiano,
Hirose Kenzo,
Hashimoto Koji,
Diago Teresa,
Aucejo Federico,
Eghtesad Bijan,
Vogt David,
Pierce Gregory,
Baker Mark,
Kelly Dympna,
Miller Charles M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.21386
Subject(s) - medicine , diastole , cardiology , artery , splenic artery , anastomosis , surgery , blood pressure
Splenic artery embolization (SAE) improves hepatic artery (HA) flow in liver transplant (OLT) recipients with so‐called splenic artery steal syndrome. We propose that SAE actually improves HA flow by reducing the HA buffer response (HABR). Patient 1: On postoperative day (POD) 1, Doppler ultrasonography (US) showed patent vasculature with HA resistive index (RI) of 0.8. On POD 4, aminotransferases rose dramatically; his RI was 1.0 with no diastolic flow. Octreotide was begun, but on POD 5 US showed reverse diastolic HA flow with no signal in distal HA branches. After SAE, US showed markedly improved flow, RI was 0.6, diastolic flow in the main artery, and complete visualization of all distal branches. By POD 6, liver function had normalized. RI in the main HA is 0.76 at 2 months postsurgery. Patient 2: On POD 1, RI was 1.0. US showed worsening intrahepatic signal, with no signal in the intrahepatic branches and reversed diastolic flow despite good graft function. On POD 7, SAE improved the intrahepatic waveform and RI (from 1.0 to 0.72). Patient 3: Intraoperative reverse diastolic arterial flow persisted on PODs 1, 2, and 3, with progressive loss of US signal in peripheral HA branches. SAE on POD 4 improved the RI (0.86) and peripheral arterial branch signals. Patient 4: US on POD 1 showed good HA flow with a normal RI (0.7). A sudden waveform change on POD 2 with increasing RI (0.83) prompted SAE, after which the wave form normalized, with reconstitution of a normal diastolic flow (RI 0.68). In conclusion, these reports confirm the usefulness of SAE for poor HA flow but suggest that inflow steal was not the problem. Rather than producing an increase in arterial inflow, SAE worked by reducing portal flow and HABR, thereby reducing end‐organ outflow resistance. Evidence of this effect is the marked reduction of the RI after the SAE to 0.6, 0.72, 0.86, and 0.68, in patients 1‐4, respectively. SAE reduces excessive portal vein flow and thereby ameliorates an overactive HABR that can cause graft dysfunction and ultimately HA thrombosis. Liver Transpl 14:374–379, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.