North American Practice-Based Recommendations for Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts in Portal Hypertension

Complications of portal hypertension, including ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic hydrothorax, and hepatic encephalopathy, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite few high-quality randomized controlled trials to guide therapeutic decisions, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation has emerged as a crucial therapeutic option to treat complications of portal hypertension. In North America, the decision to perform TIPS involves gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and interventional radiologists, but TIPS creation is performed by interventional radiologists. This is in contrast to other parts of the world where TIPS creation is performed primarily by hepatologists. Thus, the successful use of TIPS in North America is dependent on a multidisciplinary approach and technical expertise, so as to optimize outcomes. Recently, new procedural techniques, TIPS stent technology, and indications for TIPS have emerged. As a result, practices and outcomes vary greatly across institutions and significant knowledge gaps exist. In this consensus statement, the Advancing Liver Therapeutic Approaches group critically reviews the application of TIPS in the management of portal hypertension. Advancing Liver Therapeutic Approaches convened a multidisciplinary group of North American experts from hepatology, interventional radiology, transplant surgery, nephrology, cardiology, pulmonology, and hematology to critically review existing literature and develop practice-based recommendations for the use of TIPS in patients with any cause of portal hypertension in terms of candidate selection, procedural best practices and, post-TIPS management; and to develop areas of consensus for TIPS indications and the prevention of complications. Finally, future research directions are identified related to TIPS for the management of portal hypertension.

Cryoablation of low-flow vascular malformations

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cryoablation in the treatment of low-flow malformations, specifically venous malformation (VM) and fibroadipose vascular anomaly (FAVA).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 11 consecutive patients with low-flow malformations (14 lesions; 9 VM, 5 FAVA), median lesion volume 10.8 cm3, (range, 1.8-55.6 cm3) with a median age of 19 years (range, 10-50 years) who underwent cryoablation to achieve symptomatic control. Average follow-up was at a median of 207 days postprocedure (range, 120-886 days). Indications for treatment included focal pain and swelling. Technical success was achieved if the cryoablation ice ball covered the region of the malformation that corresponded to the patient's symptoms. Clinical success was considered complete if all symptoms resolved and partial if some symptoms persisted but did not necessitate further treatment.

RESULTS

The technical success rate was 100%. At 1-month follow-up, 13 of 14 lesions (93%) had a complete response and one (7%) had a partial response. At 6-month follow-up 12 of 13 (92%) had a complete response and 1 (8%) had a partial response. A total of 6 patients underwent primary cryoablation. Out of 9 VM cases, 7 had prior sclerotherapy and 2 had primary cryoablation. Out of the 5 FAVA cases, 1 had prior sclerotherapy and the remaining 4 cases underwent primary cryoablation. There were 3 minor complications following cryoablation including 2 cases of skin blisters and 1 case of transient numbness. These complications resolved with conservative management.

CONCLUSION

Cryoablation is safe and effective in the treatment of low-flow vascular malformations, either after sclerotherapy or as primary treatment.

Percutaneous Cholecystolithotomy Using Cholecystoscopy

The morbidity and mortality of cholecystectomy can increase to 10% in high surgical risk patients. The technique for percutaneous cholecystolithotomy consists of 3 steps: (1) percutaneous cholecystostomy, (2) tract dilation and cholecystolithotomy, and (3) tract evaluation and catheter removal. Cholecystoscopy is critical in guiding the lithotripsy probe for fragmentation of large stones and is useful for locating small stone fragments not seen in cholangiography. Cholecystoscopy is also useful for assessing ambiguous lesions and in distinguishing between stone vs debris or mass. Technical success rate of percutaneous cholecystolithotomy using cholecystoscopy ranges from 93% to 100%. Procedure related complication rate has been reported as 4%-15%. The most common complication is bile leak during the procedure or after catheter removal. Although recurrence rate of gallstones has been reported up to 40%, the symptom recurrence rate is much lower. Therefore, percutaneous cholecystolithotomy using cholecystoscopy can be an alternative to cholecystectomy in high surgical risk patients with symptomatic gallstones.

Modified Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (BRTO) Techniques for the Treatment of Gastric Varices: Vascular Plug-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (PARTO)/Coil-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (CARTO)/Balloon-Occluded Antegrade Transvenous Obliteration (BATO)

Gastric varices in the setting of portal hypertension occur less frequently than esophageal varices but occur at lower portal pressures and are associated with more massive bleeding events and higher mortality rate. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of gastric varices has been well documented as an effective therapy for portal hypertensive gastric varices. However, BRTO requires lengthy, higher-level post-procedural monitoring and can have complications related to balloon rupture and adverse effects of sclerosing agents. Several modified BRTO techniques have been developed including vascular plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration, coil-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration, and balloon-occluded antegrade transvenous obliteration. This article provides an overview of various modified BRTO techniques.

Laparoscopic Nephrectomy: Initial Case Report

A tumor-bearing right kidney was completely excised from an 85-year-old woman using a laparoscopic approach. A newly devised method for intra-abdominal organ entrapment and a recently developed laparoscopic tissue morcellator made it possible to deliver the 190 gm. kidney through an 11 mm. incision.

US-Guided, Direct Puncture Retrograde Thoracic Duct Access, Lymphangiography, and Embolization: Feasibility and Efficacy

PURPOSE

To describe technical details, success rate, and advantages of direct puncture of the thoracic duct (TD) under direct ultrasound (US) guidance at venous insertion in the left neck.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent attempted thoracic duct embolization (TDE) via US-guided retrograde TD access in the left neck were retrospectively reviewed. Indications for lymphangiography were iatrogenic chyle leak, pulmonary lymphangiectasia, and plastic bronchitis. Ten patients with mean age 41.4 years (range, 21 d to 72 y) underwent US-guided TD access via the left neck. Technical details, procedural times, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. TD access time was defined as time from start of procedure to successful access of TD, and total procedural time was defined from start of procedure until TDE.

RESULTS

All attempts at TD access via the neck were successful. Technical and clinical success of TDE was 60%. There were no complications. Mean TD access time was 17 minutes (range, 2-47 min), and mean total procedure time was 49 minutes (range, 25-69 min). Mean follow-up time was 5.4 months (range, 3-10 months).

CONCLUSIONS

TDE via US-guided access in the left neck is technically feasible and safe with a potential decrease in procedure time and elimination of oil-based contrast material.

Sclerotherapy of Diffuse and Infiltrative Venous Malformations of the Hand and Distal Forearm

PURPOSE

Venous malformations (VM) involving the hand and forearm often lead to chronic pain and dysfunction, and the threshold for treatment is high due to the risk of nerve and skin damage, functional deterioration and compartment syndrome. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that sclerotherapy of diffuse and infiltrative VM of the hand is a safe and effective therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients with diffuse and infiltrative VM of the hand and forearm treated with sclerotherapy from 2001 to 2014 was conducted. All VM were diagnosed during the clinical visit by a combination of physical examination and imaging. Sclerotherapy was performed under imaging guidance using ethanol and/or sodium tetradecyl sulfate foam. Clinical notes were reviewed for signs of treatment response and complications, including skin blistering and nerve injury.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients underwent a total of 40 sclerotherapy procedures. Patients were treated for pain (76%), swelling (29%) or paresthesias (6%). Treatments utilized ethanol (70%), sodium tetradecyl sulfate foam (22.5%) or a combination of these (7.5%). Twenty-four percent of patients had complete resolution of symptoms, 24% had partial relief of symptoms without need for further intervention, and 35% had some improvement after initial treatment but required additional treatments. Two skin complications were noted, both of which resolved. No motor or sensory loss was reported.

CONCLUSION

Sclerotherapy is a safe and effective therapy for VM of the hand with over 83% of patients experiencing relief.

Management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries: role of the interventional radiologist

Bile duct injuries are infrequent but potentially devastating complications of biliary tract surgery and have become more common since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The successful management of these injuries depends on the injury type, the timing of its recognition, the presence of complicating factors, the condition of the patient, and the availability of an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon. Bile duct injuries may lead to bile leakage, intraabdominal abscesses, cholangitis, and secondary biliary cirrhosis due to chronic strictures. Imaging is vital for the initial diagnosis of bile duct injury, assessment of its extent, and guidance of its treatment. Imaging options include cholescintigraphy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and fluoroscopy with a contrast medium injected via a surgically or percutaneously placed biliary drainage catheter. Depending on the type of injury, management may include endoscopic, percutaneous, and open surgical interventions. Percutaneous intervention is performed for biloma and abscess drainage, transhepatic biliary drainage, U-tube placement, dilation of bile duct strictures and stent placement to maintain ductal patency, and management of complications from previous percutaneous interventions. Endoscopic and percutaneous interventional procedures may be performed for definitive treatment or as adjuncts to definitive surgical repair. In patients who are eligible for surgery, surgical biliary tract reconstruction is the best treatment option for most major bile duct injuries. When reconstruction is performed by an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon, an excellent long-term outcome can be achieved, particularly if percutaneous interventions are performed as needed preoperatively to optimize the patient's condition and postoperatively to manage complications.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria radiologic management of hepatic malignancy

Management of hepatic malignancy is a challenging clinical problem involving several different medical and surgical disciplines. Because of the wide variety of potential therapies, treatment protocols for various malignancies continue to evolve. Consequently, development of appropriate therapeutic algorithms necessitates consideration of medical options, such as systemic chemotherapy; surgical options, such as resection or transplantation; and locoregional therapies, such as thermal ablation and transarterial embolization. The authors discuss treatment strategies for the 3 most common subtypes of hepatic malignancy treated with locoregional therapies: hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroendocrine metastases, and colorectal metastases. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria(®) are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every 2 years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances in which evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria radiologic management of benign and malignant biliary obstruction

The optimal treatment for patients with biliary obstruction varies depending on the underlying cause of the obstruction, the clinical condition of the patient, and anticipated long-term effects of the procedure performed. Endoscopic and image-guided procedures are usually the initial procedures performed for biliary obstructions. Various options are available for both the radiologist and endoscopist, and each should be considered for any individual patient with biliary obstruction. This article provides an overview of the current status of radiologic procedures performed in the setting of biliary obstruction and describes multiple clinical scenarios that may be treated by radiologic or other methods. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every 2 years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances in which evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) versus Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (BRTO) for the Management of Gastric Varices

Variceal bleeding is one of the major complications of portal hypertension. Gastric variceal bleeding is less common than esophageal variceal bleeding; however, it is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate and its management is largely uncharted due to a relatively less-established literature. In the West (United States and Europe), the primary school of management is to decompress the portal circulation utilizing the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). In the East (Japan and South Korea), the primary school of management is to address the gastric varices (GVs) specifically by sclerosing them utilizing the balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) procedure. The concept (1970s), evolution, and development (1980s-1990s) of both procedures run parallel to one another; neither is newer than the other is. The difference is that one was adopted mostly by the East (BRTO), while the other has been adopted mostly by the West (TIPS). TIPS is effective in emergently controlling bleeding for GVs even though the commonly referenced studies about managing GVs with TIPS are studies with TIPS created by bare stents. However, the results have improved with the use of stent grafts for creating TIPS. Nevertheless, TIPS cannot be tolerated by patients with poor hepatic reserve. BRTO is equally effective in controlling bleeding GVs as well as significantly reducing the GV rebleed rate. But the resultant diversion of blood flow into the portal circulation, and in turn the liver, increases the risk of developing esophageal varices and ectopic varices with their potential to bleed. Unlike TIPS, the blood diversion that occurs after BRTO improves, if not preserves, hepatic function for 6-9 months post-BRTO. The authors discuss the detailed results and critique the literature, which has evaluated and remarked on both procedures. Future research prospects and speculation as to the ideal patients for each procedure are discussed.

Pancreaticoportal fistula and disseminated fat necrosis after revision of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

A 59-year old man with alcohol related cirrhosis and portal hypertension was referred for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to treat his refractory ascites. Ten years later, two sequential TIPS revisions were performed for shunt stenosis and recurrent ascites. After these revisions, he returned with increased serum pancreatic enzyme levels and disseminated superficial fat necrosis; an iatrogenic pancreaticoportal vein fistula caused by disruption of the pancreatic duct was suspected. The bare area of the TIPS was subsequently lined with a covered stent-graft, and serum enzyme levels returned to baseline. In the interval follow-up period, the patient has clinically improved.

Percutaneous management of biliary leaks: biliary embosclerosis and ablation

Biliary leaks after hepatobiliary surgery are not uncommon. In certain situations minimal invasive percutaneous techniques may result in avoidance or reduction of the extent of surgery. Minimal invasive percutaneous techniques include (1) percutaneous bile collection (biloma) drainage, (2) percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, (3) biliary leak site embolization/sclerosis, and (4) leaking biliary segment ablation. There are two clinical applications for biliary ablation. The first is actual bile leak site ablation or embosclerosis to reduce an aperture or ablate a fistula (block a hole). The second is ablating an entire biliary segment to cease bile production and induce hepatic segmental atrophy (cease bile production). This article discusses the techniques used for biliary leak site embosclerosis/ablation (including biliary-cutaneous tract ablation) and biliary segmental ablation.

Management of venous outflow complications after liver transplantation

Liver transplantation can be complicated by stenosis of the hepatic venous or inferior vena cava outflow. Venous outflow stenosis occurs at rates of 1 to 6% depending on the type of anastomosis. Stenoses can develop acutely as a result of technical problems or can present much later after the transplant due to intimal hyperplasia or perianastomotic fibrosis. Common clinical presentations include hepatic dysfunction, liver engorgement, ascites, abdominal pain, and occasionally variceal bleeding. Treatment can generally be accomplished via a transjugular approach, but percutaneous transhepatic access may be needed when the anastomosis cannot be catheterized from the jugular access. Angioplasty can achieve technical success in restoring anastomotic patency in close to 100% of cases, but restenosis is frequent. Repeat angioplasties may be needed. In adults and pediatric patients with adult sized hepatic veins, stenting may be a better option. Resolution of clinical signs and symptoms is seen in 73 to 100% of cases. Major complications are uncommon, with stent migration being one of the more difficult complications to manage.