Vall d'Hebron Hospital uses new technique to treat children with vein obstructions

Vall d'Hebron University Hospital has successfully used a pioneering interventional radiology technique to reopen the portal vein in 12 out of 24 children treated since 2018. This minimally invasive procedure avoids the need for open abdominal surgery by using small punctures and catheters to restore blood flow to the liver.

By reopening the vein, specialists can prevent severe complications associated with portal hypertension, such as an enlarged spleen, decreased platelet counts, and life-threatening digestive hemorrhages caused by esophageal or gastric varices. Unlike traditional surgery, which may require a week of hospitalization, patients using this technique can complete their recovery in less than 24 hours.

Jesús Quintero, head of Pediatric Hepatology and Liver Transplantation at the hospital, noted that in children, these obstructions are often caused by portal vein thrombosis linked to factors like prematurity or umbilical catheter use. While the condition can remain undetected for years, the hospital utilizes ultrasound follow-up protocols for high-risk infants to prevent complications during adolescence.