The Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of EUS-Guided PSE: A Cohort Study

Bleeding from esophagogastric varices in patients with liver cirrhosis is often life-threatening. Thrombocytopenia caused by hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension is an independent risk factor for such gastrointestinal bleeding. Studies have confirmed that partial splenic embolization (PSE) can effectively reduce portal pressure and decrease the risk of rebleeding.

Traditional treatments mainly include total splenectomy and X-ray-guided transarterial partial splenic embolization (X-PSE). Although total splenectomy can completely remove the lesion, its application is limited by issues such as increased risks of postoperative infection, thrombosis, and long-term immune dysfunction. Currently, X-PSE has become the mainstream treatment. This technique involves superselective catheterization of the splenic artery branches using a microcatheter and injecting embolic microspheres to achieve partial splenic embolization, thereby preserving partial splenic function. However, X-PSE relies on radiological intervention techniques and carries risks such as radiation exposure, contrast-induced nephropathy, and non-target embolization (e.g., pancreatic necrosis). Additionally, its ability to locate small arterial branches in the splenic hilum is limited.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) integrates an ultrasound probe at the tip of an endoscope, enabling high-resolution imaging and fine-needle aspiration therapy of the pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, posterior mediastinum, and retroperitoneal structures. With color Doppler functionality, EUS can clearly identify abdominal vessels and their blood flow signals. Since the spleen and splenic vessels are located posterior to the gastric fundus, EUS can clearly visualize the vascular structures of the splenic hilum via a transgastric approach.

Compared to X-PSE, EUS-guided PSE offers the following advantages: a shorter puncture path; avoidance of iodinated contrast agents, making it suitable for patients with iodine allergies or renal insufficiency; no X-ray exposure for patients or operators; the ability to combine treatment for esophagogastric varices in the same procedure, thereby simplifying the process, reducing costs, and shortening hospital stays; and, since there is no arterial puncture site on the body surface, patients do not require prolonged limb immobilization postoperatively, resulting in an overall better healthcare experience.

Current literature and small-sample retrospective studies have reported on this technique, but the included cases are mostly limited to patients with mild liver function impairment, and there is a lack of systematic evaluation of its effect on portal pressure reduction.

The investigators' center integrates the advantages of EUS and X-PSE to perform EUS-guided transgastric puncture for precise injection of embolic materials into the splenic artery branches in patients with liver cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hypersplenism, achieving partial splenic embolization. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided PSE. The primary endpoint is safety, including the incidence of complications such as intraoperative bleeding, postoperative fever, and abdominal pain scores. Secondary endpoints include efficacy indicators: platelet count, portal pressure gradient, embolization area on CT, incidence of gastrointestinal rebleeding, as well as hospitalization costs and length of stay.