Feasibility of using a swine portal vein containing a metallic stent for creating a portacaval shunt.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the feasibility of using a metallic stented portal vein as a conduit for portacaval shunt in pigs. METHODS: A metallic self-expanding stent was placed in the portal vein of five pigs under combined ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance via a percutaneous transhepatic approach. After 6 weeks, a portacaval shunt was performed using the stented portal vein as a conduit. A single angiogram followed immediately by sacrifice and histologic examination was performed on each pig at a varying time interval postshunt. RESULTS: One pig died 3 days after the shunt procedure because of a presumed surgical technical failure and a consequent thrombosed portal vein. Angiographic patency of the portacaval shunt was confirmed in the four remaining pigs. Postmortem histologic evaluation showed more complete endothelialization and subintimal organization in the more chronic stents. Thrombus occurred only in the stent of the pig that died. There was no significant luminal obstruction in the other four stents. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a stented portal vein can be used successfully as a conduit for portacaval shunt in pigs.