Anthie Maria Papadopoulou MBBS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nick Woodward MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Peter Neal Wylie MBBChir, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Susan Anthony MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Neil Hunter Davies MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jonathan Mark Tibballs MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We review the spectrum of complications of pre-operative portal vein embolization and illustrate their clinical and imaging findings, evaluate their impact on patient outcome and describe means to avoid and treat them.

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is a technique that is gaining increasing acceptance in the preoperative treatment of selected patients with either primary or secondary hepatobiliary malignancy and a small estimated future liver remnant (FLR) prior to major hepatic resection. It is performed in an attempt to induce selective hypertrophy of the nondiseased portion of the liver and thus prevent postoperative liver failure. We draw from our experience over the past 4 years and illustrate the complications of PVE including inadvertent occlusion of portal vein branches, abscess formation and insufficient FLR hypertrophy in cases of inadequate biliary drainage prior to the PVE. Their clinical presentation and clinical impact is discussed. Their findings are illustrated using angiographic, CT and MR imaging. We discuss means of avoiding them as well as potential treatment options.

Papadopoulou, A, Woodward, N, Wylie, P, Anthony, S, Davies, N, Tibballs, J, Complications of Portal Vein Embolization: Our Four Year Experience.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4417309.html