Abstract:Objective
To observe the changes in hypersplenism after orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT) and investigate the effect of OLT on hypersplenism. Methods Based on the clinical data of 14 eligible OLT patients operated on in our hospital during two and a half years, an analysis of the preoperative values of the thickness of the spleen, blood WBC and PLT count was made,and the postoperative pattern of changes of portal flow velocity was observed.
Results Blood WBC and PLT count returned to normal 1 month after the operation, and the thickness of spleen reduced about 17.0% in the first month , but had no additional change at 1 year later. Portal flow velocity increased significantly 1 month after operation , then decreased slowly in the first year. Portal flow velocity , blood WBC and PLT count were all significantly related to the thickness of the spleen.
Conclusions The high velocity of portal flow after OLT was mostly attributed to increased flow from the splenic vein; the main cause of the decrease in the level of blood WBC and PLT in hypersplenism before operation is augmentation of splenic volume; the recuperation of hypersplenism after OLT relies on the extent of reversion of splenic volume. It is not necessary to perform splenectomy in patients with hypersplenism when they receive OLT.