Experience of Performing Hepatic Interventional Radiological Procedures in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Odisha: A Case Series

Introduction

During last few decades, radiological interventions have played crucial role in the management of the patients with chronic liver diseases. Various procedures including transjugualar intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB), transarterial chemoembilization (TACE)/transarterial radioembolization (TARE), balloon retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (PARTO) are being performed safely and have significantly improved clinical outcomes in these patients. The technical and clinical success depend on appropriate patient selection along with thorough knowledge and experience to perform these procedures. On the other hand, few adverse events may also be associated with these procedures. The intervention radiologist and hepatologists should identify and treat these complications at the earliest so as to improve outcome of the patient.

Materials and methods

About 25 hepatic intervention radiology procedures were performed in our center from January 2022 to 2023 May. Among these we have selected five patients who underwent TACE/TIPS/DIPS in our institute. We have selected these cases as in each of these cases we encountered some interesting outcomes/complications which were managed successfully.

Results

The first case describes 33-year-old male with POEM syndrome and Budd Chiari Syndrome (BCS) who underwent TIPS and immediately had blockade of the stent. The second case is of a 43 years old male having BCS, refractory ascites with umbilical and inguinal hernia. The third case is of a 40 years old female with decompensated cirrhosis who underwent TIPS for portal hypertensive gastropathy. The fourth case is of a 51-years’ female with decompensated cirrhosis with sarcopenia. Finally, the fifth case describes 24-year-old female with BCS and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this article we discuss the procedure and clinical course of the patients following the procedure.

Conclusion

Hepatic radiological interventions though widely used can be associated with unusual albeit life threatening complications. Appropriate patient selection and thorough knowledge of procedure along with early diagnosis and management of these complications are key to obtain satisfying long term outcomes.