A groundbreaking medical procedure has been performed by Dr. Edward Wolfgang Lee, an interventional radiologist at UCLA Health, on a 6-year-old boy to address severe portal hypertension. Dr. Lee successfully executed the first-ever percutaneous spleno-renal shunt procedure in a pediatric patient, which aims to relieve pressure in the portal venous system caused by a previous liver transplant and chronic blood clotting. The boy, who had experienced numerous life-threatening bleeding episodes due to expanded varices, previously wasn't a candidate for traditional treatments. The minimally invasive procedure, done in December 2025, involved creating a shunt between the splenic and renal veins, significantly reducing abdominal pressure and resolving the hypertension. Dr. Lee emphasized the procedure's potential for broader application, as many children could benefit from this innovative approach to treating portal hypertension without the risks associated with open surgery. The boy is currently recovering well and has not experienced further bleeding since the intervention.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:15:38 GMT | UCLA Health