Percutaneous Transsplenic Balloon-Assisted Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement for Chronic Noncirrhotic Obliterative Portal Vein Thrombus

Abstract Portal vein recanalization-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PVR-TIPS) has become an accepted minimally invasive therapeutic option for alleviating symptoms of portal hypertension refractory to medical and endoscopic therapy in patients with chronic portal vein thrombosis. The transsplenic approach for PVR-TIPS has shown excellent results with acceptable complication rates. Traditionally, endovascular snares are used as fluoroscopic target for accessing the recanalized portal vein from the hepatic vein. Here, we report our experience with contrast-filled balloon catheter as a fluoroscopic target for the same in a noncirrhotic patient with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction and recurrent variceal bleeding.