Limitations of percutaneous techniques in the treatment of portal vein thrombosis

New therapeutic alternatives to portal vein thrombosis (PVT) include the pe rcutaneous, transhepatic infusion of fibrinolytic agents, balloon dilatatio n, and stenting. These maneuvers have proven to be effective in some cases with acute, recent PVT. We have treated two patients with acute PVT via tra nshepatic or transjugular approaches and by using pharmacologic and mechani cal thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Although both patients clinically improv ed, morphologic results were only fair and partial rethrombosis was observe d. The limitations of percutaneous procedures in the recanalization of acut e PVT in noncirrhotic patients are discussed.