The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze the efficacy and morbidity associated with splenic artery embolization for hypersplenism due to portal hypertension (PHT), as a function of the volume of the splenic parenchyma embolized and the type of PHT (due to intrahepatic block or segmental PHT).

This study retrospectively included 17 patients with hypersplenism secondary to PHT (intrahepatic block, n=14; segmental, n=3) treated by splenic artery embolization. The splenic volume embolized was estimated by computed tomography (CT) one month after embolization. A clinical assessment and platelet count took place at 7days, 1month and 6months after the embolization.

In the group with PHT due to intrahepatic block, the mean volume of embolized splenic parenchyma was 63% of the initial volume (range: 30–95%). Six months later, the platelet level had increased by an average of 232%. All patients with fewer than 80,000platelets/mL at 6months had an embolization volume less than 50%. In the segmental PHT group, the mean volume of the embolized parenchyma was 62% of the initial volume (range: 20–95%), bleeding symptoms had disappeared in all patients, and the platelet level exceeded 80,000/mL. Six patients (6/17, 35%) had complications, two minor and four major: two splenic abscesses, one respiratory distress with ascites, and one pancreatitis with ascites. Five of the six complications were observed in patients with a volume of embolized splenic parenchyma more than 70%.

Our results show that splenic embolization of more than 50% of the parenchyma is effective in the treatment of hypersplenism due to PHT, but that when the embolized volume exceeds 70%, the procedure is associated with considerable morbidity.