Abstract
BACKGROUND Portal hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis can be treated by splenectomy. During splenectomy, the gastrosplenic and the splenorenal ligaments that form the hilar splenic pedicle can be surgically divided by several approaches, with the aim to reduce portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and postoperative pancreatic fistula (PPF). This 12-year retrospective study from a single center aimed to evaluate postoperative outcomes following use of a modified method of surgical division of the splenic pedicle (MSDSP) in 719 patients who underwent splenectomy for portal hypertension (PH). MATERIAL AND METHODS From January 2010 to December 2021, 719 consecutive cirrhotic patients with PH and splenomegaly underwent splenectomy in our department. According to different methods of surgical division of the splenic pedicle, patients were divided into a Control Group (n=349) and a Study Group (n=370). The characteristics of the patients, perioperative indicators, postoperative complications (PVT, PPF and abdominal hemorrhage) and follow-up data were compared between the 2 groups. Propensity score matching was conducted to adjust for differences in preoperative characteristics at a 1: 1 ratio, resulting in 260 patients in each group. RESULTS After PSM was conducted, intraoperative blood loss, PVT, PPF, and hospital stay were decreased significantly in the matched Study Group (all P<0.01). Both groups showed similar results concerning recurrent esophagogastric variceal bleeding and overall survival during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Our MSDSP help to reduce postoperative complications and shorten hospital stay.