[Preoperative portal vein embolization with Amplatzer(®) vascular plugs (AVP): a review of 17 cases].

The purpose was to determine the efficacy and technical particularities related to the use of Amplatzer(®) Vascular Plugs (AVP) for preoperative portal vein embolization. Between 2005 and 2009, a total of 48 type I AVP were embolized into the portal venous system of 17 patients (51-83 years) prior to extended hepatic resection where the residual liver volume (RLV) was deemed sufficient (RLV < 35-40% in patients with underlying hepatocellular disease, < 25-30% in patients with normal liver). AVP were used alone in seven patients and combined to other embolization agents in 10 patients (coils: n=5, microparticles: n=1, resorbable gel foam: n=4). The procedure was technically successful in 100% of cases with immediate success rate of 94.1% (imcomplete embolization of a segmental branch of segment VIII). The procedure was well tolerated clinically in 94.1% of cases, and in 100% of cases based on laboratory values. The rate of recanalization on follow-up CT at 5 weeks (2-22) was 11.7%. The rate of complications, major (left portal vein thrombosis following right portal vein embolization) and minor (one case of portovenous fistula), was 11.7%. The rate of RLV growth was from +13 to +285 cm(3) (mean at +122 cm(3)), or +4.98 to +78.51% (mean at +33.3%) (hepatocellular carcinoma: mean of +30.7%, metastases: mean of +19.7%). The rate of surgical candicacy was 94.1% (two patients were excluded: insufficient growth of RLV, development of peritoneal carcinomatosis). AVP appear to be reliable and effective for the preoperative embolization of the portal vein, with low morbidity and sufficient growth of RLV.