[X-ray intravascular reduction of blood flow along the hepatic artery in patients with portal hypertension and resistant ascites].

After studying the results of embolization of the hepatic artery in 14 patients with portal hypertension and resistant ascites the authors came to the conclusion that this operation often leads to the development of hepatic insufficiency and a fatal outcome and produces a clinical effect only in a small number of patients. Celiac- and mesenteric angiography and transhepatic portography were carried out for pathogenetic substantiation of the intervention. Pressure in the portal vein, hepatic veins and arteries, and in the inferior vena cava was measured during the examination. The space velocity of the portal and arterial hepatic blood flow was determined. Clinico-angiographic examination of the patients failed to reveal criteria for predicting the efficacy of embolization of the hepatic artery. A positive result may be expected in cases in which embolization leads to a reduction in portal pressure. Embolization of the hepatic artery produced no clinical effect in initial reduction of the blood flow in the liver.