An Audit of Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction: Experience from Tertiary Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is a common cause of portal hypertension in India.

AIMS: (1) To evaluate the clinical presentation and the natural history of EHPVO; (2) to describe the risk factors, rebleeding rates and development of portal biliopathy on follow-up; and requirement of surgery in EHPVO at a tertiary care center.

METHODS: Data from 318 consecutive patients with EHPVO from June 2012 to October 2020 were analyzed. All patients underwent liver biochemistry, ultrasonography (USG) abdomen, upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, and viral serology. Color Doppler, computed tomography (CT) abdomen and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) were done as indicated.

RESULTS: Mean age of presentation was 15.08 years [standard deviation (SD) 12.74; 6 months-60 years; 210 males)]. The presenting features were upper GI bleed (n = 227) (age at first bleed 11 years; 4 months-56 years), left hypochondrium pain or lump (n = 67), and only lower GI bleed (n = 1). Incidentally detected EHPVO on USG was seen in 10.69% (n = 34) patients. Postbleed ascites were seen in 10.69% (n = 34) patients. Six patients had symptomatic portal biliopathy and 14 had hypersplenism. Around 14.77% (n = 47) of patients had a history of being delivered at home, while 3.45% (n = 11) had a history of umbilical sepsis. During follow-up, 35.3% (n = 82) of patients had rebled. On imaging, associated splenic vein (SV) collaterals and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) collaterals were seen in 35.84% (n = 114) and 11.01% (n = 35) patients, respectively. Gallbladder varices were seen in 44.3% (n = 106), while gallstones in 5.66% (n = 18). On endoscopy, 87.42% (n = 278) patients had esophageal varices, 18.86% (n = 60) had isolated fundic varices, and three had ectopic varices. Only two patients had rectal varices and colopathy. Emergency devascularization was required in 3.45% (n = 14) patients for the failure of variceal bleed control, 1.88% (n = 7) underwent splenectomy, and four patients had proximal splenorenal shunt (PSRS) surgery.

CONCLUSION: Extrahepatic portal hypertension (EHPVO) is an important cause of portal hypertension (PHT) in our country. The majority of them present with GI bleed; postbleed ascites were seen only in ~10%. Rebleed occurs in one-third of cases. Gallbladder varices were common; portal biliopathy occurred in 10% and were usually asymptomatic.