BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Congenital portosystemic shunts are rare vascular malformations that lead to severe complications. Their management is controversial. The aim of this study was to propose a clear definition of the risks and management of congenital portosystemic shunts in children according to our experience and a review of the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two children with a complicated congenital portosystemic shunt were studied in our institution. When necessary, management included portal pressure measurement and portal vein angiography during an occlusion test and closure of the shunt by surgical and/or endovascular methods. RESULTS: Five neonates with intrahepatic shunts presented with cholestasis that resolved spontaneously, and 17 older children presented with liver tumors (13) and/or hepatopulmonary syndrome (2), pulmonary artery hypertension (3), portosystemic encephalopathy (3), heart failure (1), and glomerulonephritis (1). The portosystemic shunt was extrahepatic (11) or intrahepatic (6). Portosystemic shunts were closed by endovascular methods in 5 children and surgically in 10, 4 of whom had portal pressure during occlusion above 35 mmHg and extremely hypoplastic or undetectable portal veins requiring banding of the fistula before closure. Shunt closure resulted in restoration of intrahepatic portal flow in all, with complete or partial regression of benign liver masses, and regression or stabilization of pulmonary, cardiac, neurological, and renal complications. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital portosystemic shunt carries risks of severe complications in children. Closure of a shunt persisting after age 2 years should be considered preventively. Intrahepatic portal flux restoration can be expected, even when intrahepatic portal veins are extremely hypoplastic or undetectable.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Congenital portosystemic shunts are rare vascular malformations that lead to severe complications. Their management is controversial. The aim of this study was to propose a clear definition of the risks and management of congenital portosystemic shunts in children according to our experience and a review of the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two children with a complicated congenital portosystemic shunt were studied in our institution. When necessary, management included portal pressure measurement and portal vein angiography during an occlusion test and closure of the shunt by surgical and/or endovascular methods. RESULTS: Five neonates with intrahepatic shunts presented with cholestasis that resolved spontaneously, and 17 older children presented with liver tumors (13) and/or hepatopulmonary syndrome (2), pulmonary artery hypertension (3), portosystemic encephalopathy (3), heart failure (1), and glomerulonephritis (1). The portosystemic shunt was extrahepatic (11) or intrahepatic (6). Portosystemic shunts were closed by endovascular methods in 5 children and surgically in 10, 4 of whom had portal pressure during occlusion above 35 mmHg and extremely hypoplastic or undetectable portal veins requiring banding of the fistula before closure. Shunt closure resulted in restoration of intrahepatic portal flow in all, with complete or partial regression of benign liver masses, and regression or stabilization of pulmonary, cardiac, neurological, and renal complications. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital portosystemic shunt carries risks of severe complications in children. Closure of a shunt persisting after age 2 years should be considered preventively. Intrahepatic portal flux restoration can be expected, even when intrahepatic portal veins are extremely hypoplastic or undetectable.
Authors: Francesca Romana Ponziani; Mariella Faccia; Maria Assunta Zocco; Valerio Giannelli; Adriano Pellicelli; Giuseppe Maria Ettorre; Nicoletta De Matthaeis; Fabrizio Pizzolante; Anna Maria De Gaetano; Laura Riccardi; Maurizio Pompili; Gian Ludovico Rapaccini Journal: J Ultrasound Date: 2018-10-24
Authors: Frank DiPaola; Andrew T Trout; Ashley E Walther; Anita Gupta; Rachel Sheridan; Kathleen M Campbell; Greg Tiao; Jorge A Bezerra; Kevin E Bove; Manish Patel; Jaimie D Nathan Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2019-09-23 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Camila Vieira Bellettini; Rafaela Wagner; Aleocídio Sette Balzanelo; André Luis de Souza Andretta; Arthur Nascimento de Moura; Catia Carolina Fabris; Eduardo Maranhão Gubert Journal: Rev Paul Pediatr Date: 2016-04-08
Authors: Liliana Chiorean; Xin-Wu Cui; Andrea Tannapfel; Doris Franke; Martin Stenzel; Wojciech Kosiak; Dagmar Schreiber-Dietrich; Jörg Jüngert; Jian-Min Chang; Christoph F Dietrich Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2015-07-28 Impact factor: 5.742