Hepatoma, arterioportal shunting, and hyperkinetic portal hypertension: therapeutic embolization.

Four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, shunting of blood from the hepatic artery to the portal vein, and hyperkinetic portal hypertension were treated by transcatheter embolization of the hepatic artery. In three acutely bleeding patients variceal hemorrhage was controlled by the embolization. Following embolization hepatofugal portal venous flow became hepatopetal in all four patients. No serious complications were encountered. When hepatoma is complicated by arterioportal shunting and hyperkinetic portal hypertension, occlusion of the fistula by transcatheter embolotherapy can reduce the portal pressure.