Treatment of hypersplenism in patients with portal hypertension of hepatic cirrhosis

Hypersplenism is a common clinical manifestation of portal hypertension in hepatic cirrhosis. Clinical treatment of hypersplenism includes splenectomy, partial splenic embolization and liver transplantation. Splenectomy and partial splenic embolization are effective for hypersplenism, but the main complications are portal / splenic vein thrombosis (PSVT) and infection. Liver transplantation is an ideal method for the treatment of hypersplenism caused by cirrhosis, but patients with liver transplantation may still have persistent hypersplenism. Simultaneous splenectomy or partial splenic embolization which is performed with liver transplantation is a therapy of persistent hypersplenism. It can improve the function of graft but also increase the risk of infection. Key words: Hypersplenism; Splenectomy; Partial splenic embolization; Liver transplantation