Post-Splenectomy Portal Venous Thrombosis in Cirrhotic Patients: An Observational Clinical Trial

Background: Post-splenectomy portal venous thrombosis (PS-PVT) carries multiple threats to patients’ lives. Different variables were identified as risk factors for PS-PVT in cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of PS-PVT in cirrhotic patients. Patients and methods: Sixty cirrhotic patients of Child class A submitted to open splenectomy were observed, both clinically and by Duplex ultrasound (US) examination, for the development of PS-PVT. Results: Overall, 17 patients (28.3%) developed PS-PVT at a median interval of 4.5 days (21 hours-7 days) post-splenectomy. Univariate analysis showed that lower preoperative platelet count (P<0.0460) and white blood cell (WBC) count (P<0.0001) and wider splenic vein diameter (SVD) (P<0.0001) correlated with PS-PVT. Multivariate analysis identified lower preoperative WBC count [odds ratio (OR): 0.651, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.245-0.893, P<0.005] and wider SVD (OR: 2.383, 95% CI: 1.558-3.646., P<0.001) as independent risk factors of PS-PVT. While 16 out of the 17 patients (94%) who had these 2 risk factors developed PS-PVT, only 1 out of the 43 patients (2.3%) who didn’t have the same risk factors developed thrombosis. All 17 patients had complete resolution of their thrombosis on anticoagulation therapy within 3-6 months without complications or mortality. Conclusion: PVT is a common complication of splenectomy in cirrhotic patients. Patients with low WBC count and wide SVD are highly susceptible to develop this complication mandating close observation from the 1 st PO day and immediate anticoagulation after diagnosis.