Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS) with balloon-expandable and self-expanding stents: technical and clinical aspects after 3 1/2 years' experience

Unsolved Questions in Salvage TIPSS: Practical Modalities for Placement, Alternative Therapeutics, and Long-Term Outcomes

Salvage transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) has proven its efficacy to treat refractory variceal bleeding for patients with cirrhosis. However, this procedure is associated with very poor outcomes. As it is used as a last resort to treat a severe complication of cirrhosis, it seems essential to improve our practice, with the aim of optimizing management of those patients. Somehow, many questions are still unsolved: which stents should be used? Should a concomitant embolization be systematically considered? Is there any alternative therapeutic in case of recurrent bleeding despite TIPSS? What are the long-term outcomes on survival, liver transplantation, and hepatic encephalopathy after salvage TIPSS? Is this procedure futile in some patients? Is prognosis with salvage TIPSS nowadays as bad as earlier, despite the improvement of prophylaxis for variceal bleeding? The aim of this review is to summarize those data and to identify the lacking ones to guide further research on salvage TIPSS.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt prevents rebleeding in cirrhotic patients having cavernous transformation of the portal vein without improving their survival

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and endoscopic variceal ligations (EVL) plus propranolol in decreasing rebleeding and improving survival rates in cirrhotic patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV).

METHODS

Cirrhotic patients with CTPV and a history of variceal bleeding who were treated for recurrent variceal bleeding between June 2010 and July 2016 were identified and classified based on the treatment they received (TIPS or EVL plus propranolol). Their characteristics and clinical data were recorded. The rebleeding and long-term survival rates between the two groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients were included, of whom 25 were treated with TIPS and 26 with EVL plus propranolol. The mean duration of follow up was 21 months (range 1-47 months) in the former group and 27 months (range 6-73 months) in the latter group. The recurrent variceal bleeding-free rate increased remarkably in the TIPS group compared with the EVL + propranolol group (P = 0.047). Three (14.3%) patients died in the TIPS group, and one (3.8%) in the EVL plus propranolol group (P = 0.305). Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 14.3% (3/21) of the patients in the TIPS group and in 3.8% (1/26) in the EVL + propranolol group (P = 0.202).

CONCLUSION

TIPS appeared to be more effective in preventing rebleeding in cirrhotic patients with CTPV compared with EVL plus propranolol, without improving survival.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Occlusion Complicated with Biliary Fistula Successfully Treated with a Stent Graft: A Case Report

A 43-year-old man with liver cirrhosis received transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for the treatment of recurrent variceal bleeding and F3 esophageal varices. During routine follow up liver ultrasound examination, six months after the implantation, TIPS occlusion was suspected and TIPS revision was performed. During the revision, moderate to severe stenosis at the hepatic venous segment of the tract and a total occlusion at the parenchymal segment of TIPS tract near the portal vein with biliary-TIPS fistula were identified with a clear visualization of the common bile duct. After the successful TIPS revision with the placement of an additional stent-graft, the biliary fistula and common bile duct were no more delineated. We herein report a rare case with an obvious visualization of biliary-TIPS fistula associated with obstruction of TIPS shunt on the tractogram and recanalization with an additional stent-graft.

Implantability, Complications, and Follow-Up After Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Stent-Shunt Creation With the 6F Self-Expanding Sinus-SuperFlex-Visual Stent

Background

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) builds a shortcut between the portal vein and a liver vein, and represents a sophisticated alternative to open surgery in the management of portal hypertension or its complications.

Objectives

To describe clinical experiences with a low-profile nitinol stent system in TIPSS creation, and to assess primary and long-term success.

Patients and Methods

Twenty-six patients (5 females, 21 males; mean age 54.6 years) were treated using a low-profile 6F self-expanding sinus-SuperFlex-Visual stent system. The indication for TIPSS creation was refractory bleeding in 9 of the 26 patients, refractory ascites in 18 patients, and acute thrombosis of the portal vein confluence in one patient. Portosystemic pressure gradients before and after TIPSS, periprocedural and long-term complications, and the time to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) or death were recorded.

Results

The portosystemic pressure gradient was significantly reduced, from 20.9 ± 6.3 mmHg before to 8.2 ± 2.3 mmHg after TIPSS creation (P < 0.001). Procedure-related complications included acute tract occlusion (n = 2), liver hematoma (n = 1), hepatic encephalopathy (n = 1), and cardiac failure (n = 1). Three of the 26 patients had late-onset TIPSS occlusion (at 12, 12, and 39 months after TIPSS creation). Three patients died within one week after the procedure due to their poor general condition (multiorgan failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing pancreatitis, and aspiration pneumonia). Another four patients succumbed to their underlying advanced liver disease within one year after TIPSS insertion. Seven patients underwent OLT at a mean time of 9.4 months after TIPSS creation.

Conclusion

The sinus-SuperFlex-Visual stent system can be safely deployed as a TIPSS device. The pressure gradient reduction was clinically sufficient to treat the patients’ symptoms, and periprocedural complications were due to the TIPSS procedure per se rather than to the particular stent system employed in this study.

Shunt stenosis or occlusion after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been extensively used to treat the complications of portal hypertension and should be considered the first-line treatment for hemorrhage of acute esophagogastric varices caused by portal hypertension. However, stent stenosis or occlusion after TIPS is the main cause of shunt dysfunction and surgical failure. This paper aims to make a comprehensive review of stents, with the focus being on the development of stents and stent coat material, the reason of shunt stenosis or occlusion, and the revision of shunt.

Efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with adjunctive embolotherapy with cyanoacrylate for esophageal variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with adjunctive embolotherapy has recently been reported to be effective in the prevention of variceal hemorrhage of cirrhotic patients. However, further investigation of its long-term efficacy is still needed.

AIM

To examine the rebleeding, survival, and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after treatment with TIPS alone and TIPS with adjunctive embolotherapy using cyanoacrylate for esophageal variceal bleeding.

METHODS

Patients with refractory to endoscopic therapy for esophageal variceal bleeding were enrolled. TIPS was performed in 101 patients with adjunctive embolotherapy (n = 53) or alone (n = 48) between January 2006 and December 2011. Chart reviews were performed to determine rebleeding, survival rates, and the incidence of HE.

RESULTS

Recurrent hemorrhage occurred in 12 (11.9 %) patients during the mean follow-up periods of 35.8 months. Rebleeding was observed in 9/48 (18.8 %) patients in TIPS alone group and 3/53 (5.7 %) patients in TIPS with adjunctive embolotherapy group (p = 0.042). Death occurred in 30 patients during follow-up (TIPS alone: n = 16, TIPS with adjunctive embolotherapy: n = 14, p = 0.447). Twenty-six episodes of HE occurred in 18 patients in TIPS alone group and 16 episodes occurred in 10 patients in TIPS with embolotherapy group. The probability of HE was significantly higher in TIPS alone group than in TIPS with embolotherapy group (p = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

TIPS with adjunctive embolotherapy with cyanoacrylate is relatively safe and effective, with a lower rebleeding and HE incidence in comparison of TIPS alone.

[Image guiding techniques and navigation for TACE, SIRT and TIPS]

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE

To avoid non-targeted embolization in liver tumors, arteries important for embolization must be detected. In transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) arteries for particle embolization have to be detected and in selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) extrahepatic arteries which must be protected from embolization have to be detected. In transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) the problem is to achieve an exactly targeted puncture of the portal vein.

STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS

In TACE and SIRT detection of the vessels is performed from various angles by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In TIPS puncture is guided by ultrasound or performed blindly.

METHODICAL INNOVATIONS

Using cone beam CT (CBCT) very small vessels in the liver can be visualized and 2D-3D back projection is able to detect the exact position of the portal vein in TIPS.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The use of CBCT and 2D-3D back projection significantly enhances navigation of vessels.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

If flat detector technique is available CBCT should be used in TACE and SIRT and 2D-3D navigation needs hardware and software updates.

Shunting branch of portal vein and stent position predict survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

AIM: To evaluate the effect of the shunting branch of the portal vein (PV) (left or right) and the initial stent position (optimal or suboptimal) of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 307 consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS placement for variceal bleeding from March 2001 to July 2010 at our center. The left PV was used in 221 patients and the right PV in the remaining 86 patients. And, 224 and 83 patients have optimal stent position and sub-optimal stent positions, respectively. The patients were followed until October 2011 or their death. Hepatic encephalopathy, shunt dysfunction, and survival were evaluated as outcomes. The difference between the groups was compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. A Cox regression model was employed to evaluate the predictors.

RESULTS: Among the patients who underwent TIPS to the left PV, the risk of hepatic encephalopathy (P = 0.002) and mortality were lower (P < 0.001) compared to those to the right PV. Patients who underwent TIPS with optimal initial stent position had a higher primary patency (P < 0.001) and better survival (P = 0.006) than those with suboptimal initial stent position. The shunting branch of the portal vein and the initial stent position were independent predictors of hepatic encephalopathy and shunt dysfunction after TIPS, respectively. And, both were independent predictors of survival.

CONCLUSION: TIPS placed to the left portal vein with optimal stent position may reduce the risk of hepatic encephalopathy and improve the primary patency rates, thereby prolonging survival.

Rebleeding rates following TIPS for variceal hemorrhage in the Viatorr era: TIPS alone versus TIPS with variceal embolization

PURPOSE

To compare rebleeding rates following treatment of variceal hemorrhage with TIPS alone versus TIPS with variceal embolization in the covered stent-graft era.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 52 patients (M:F 29:23, median age 52 years) with hepatic cirrhosis and variceal hemorrhage underwent TIPS insertion between 2003 and 2008. Median Child-Pugh and MELD scores were 8.5 and 13.5. Generally, 10-mm diameter TIPS were created using covered stent-grafts (Viatorr; W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). A total of 37 patients underwent TIPS alone, while 15 patients underwent TIPS with variceal embolization. The rates of rebleeding and survival were compared.

RESULTS

All TIPS were technically successful. Median portosystemic pressure gradient reductions were 13 versus 11 mmHg in the embolization and non-embolization groups. There were no statistically significant differences in Child-Pugh and MELD score, or portosystemic pressure gradients between each group. A trend toward increased rebleeding was present in the non-embolization group, where 8/37 (21.6%) patients rebled while 1/15 (6.7%) patients in the TIPS with embolization group rebled (P = 0.159) during median follow-up periods of 199 and 252 days (P = 0.374). Rebleeding approached statistical significance among patients with acute hemorrhage, where 8/32 (25%) versus 0/14 (0%) rebled in the non-embolization and embolization groups (P = 0.055). A trend toward increased bleeding-related mortality was seen in the non-embolization group (P = 0.120).

CONCLUSIONS

TIPS alone showed a high incidence of rebleeding in this series, whereas TIPS with variceal embolization resulted in reduced recurrent hemorrhage. The efficacy of embolization during TIPS performed for variceal hemorrhage versus TIPS alone should be further compared with larger prospective randomized trials.

Causes of TIPS dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation is an effective method to control portal hypertension. TIPS creations with bare stents have shown limited and unpredictable patency. In nearly all cases of rebleeding or recurrent ascites after TIPS creation, there is shunt stenosis or occlusion. The purpose of this article is to review the biologic and technical factors that predispose to TIPS failure and how the use of an expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered-stent has significantly improved TIPS patency.

CONCLUSION

Biologic and technical factors may predispose to shunt failure. The combination of improved technique and expandable PTFE has significantly improved TIPS patency. The need for follow-up venography and secondary interventions has been reduced significantly as a result of improved shunt patency.

Percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts

PURPOSE

To assess the role of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS).

METHODS

Between January 1999 and September 2004, 6 patients with HCC and TIPS were treated with either TACE (n = 3) or TACE in combination with PEI (n = 3). One patient had a known advanced, untreated HCC prior to TIPS. In the remaining 5 patients HCC was diagnosed 14, 17, 51, 69, and 76 months respectively after elective TIPS. TACE was performed using a mixture of 30-60 mg of epirubicin and 10 ml of lipiodol following superselective catheterization of tumor-feeding vessels. PEI was performed under CT guidance.

METHODS

The mean follow-up time after treatment of HCC was 26.2 months (range 7-46 months). During follow-up, all patients were free of rebleeding. Two patients died 7 and 38 months after one session of TACE and PEI (77 months after TIPS) and three sessions of TACE (91 months after TIPS), respectively. The cause of death was liver failure (Child-Pugh class C) and peritonitis, respectively. A third patient underwent liver transplantation 24 months after TIPS and several sessions of TACE. In the remaining 3 patients, the HCC is well controlled 13, 30, and 46 months after repetitive percutaneous treatment without signs of hepatic deterioration or metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Transcatheter arterial superselective chemoembolization and percutaneous ethanol injection seems to be beneficial even in HCC patients treated with TIPS, provided that the liver function is adequate.

Use of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug for embolization of a large retroperitoneal shunt during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation for gastric variceal bleeding

A patient undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for gastric variceal hemorrhage was found to have a very large spontaneous splenorenal shunt requiring embolization after successful TIPS creation. The anticipated site of embolization was short and large in diameter and was therefore poorly suited for the use of conventional devices such as coils. Two Amplatzer Vascular Plugs and two platinum coils were used to occlude the shunt rapidly and completely.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts: adjunctive embolotherapy of gastroesophageal collateral vessels in the prevention of variceal rebleeding

PURPOSE

To prospectively compare rebleeding rates in patients treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation alone and those treated with TIPS creation combined with adjunctive embolotherapy of gastroesophageal collateral vessels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Informed consent and ethics committee approval were obtained. Between November 1991 and November 2002, the authors prospectively followed up 95 consecutive patients (61 men, 34 women; age range, 30-81 years) with variceal bleeding due to cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of splenoportographic findings after TIPS creation. The patients were treated with TIPS alone (group 1, 42 patients) or in combination with variceal embolotherapy (group 2, 53 patients). Embolotherapy with sclerosing agents in combination with coils was performed when varices continued to fill and the pressure gradient was more than 12 mm Hg. Rebleeding was defined as any hemorrhage necessitating a transfusion of 2 or more units of blood. Estimates for the cumulative patency, survival, and rebleeding rates were calculated by using life-table analysis; the log-rank test was used to compare the two treatment modalities. The prognostic relevance of treatment and selected variables with respect to rebleeding and survival were analyzed with multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up time (+/- standard deviation) was 48.7 months +/- 37.8 (range, 1-127 months). The proportion of patients (Kaplan-Meier estimation) with TIPS who remained free of bleeding was 61% after 2 years and 53% after 4 years. Patients who underwent both the TIPS procedure and embolotherapy remained free of bleeding in 84% of cases after 2 years and in 81% of cases after 4 years. With respect to the rebleeding rate, the difference between the groups was statistically significant (log-rank test, P = .02). Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that variceal embolotherapy significantly reduced the risk of rebleeding (Wald test, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that TIPS and adjunctive embolotherapy of gastroesophageal collateral vessels significantly lower the rebleeding rate in comparison to TIPS alone.

The effect of initial shunt outflow position on patency of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts

PURPOSE

It has been suggested that initial stent position in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) with relation to hepatic venous outflow is an important determinant of shunt patency. It was hypothesized that TIPS with the stent-implanted segments terminating in the hepatic vein (HV) have shorter primary unassisted shunt patency durations than TIPS with the stent-implanted segments extending to the hepatocaval junction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A consecutive group of 107 patients who underwent TIPS creation for variceal bleeding were retrospectively identified, and the angiographic images during initial TIPS creation were reviewed independently by two observers who were blinded to outcome. Primary unassisted patency was estimated in group A (TIPS terminating in the HV; n = 47) and group B (TIPS terminating at the hepatocaval junction; n = 60) with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the two groups were compared with the log-rank test. Patients who had less than 30 days of follow-up were excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

Among all 107 patients, primary unassisted patency rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 91% +/- 4%, 74% +/- 6%, and 49% +/- 6%. TIPS were classified into group A or group B with high interobserver agreement (Cohen kappa = 0.98). At 12 months, the primary unassisted patency rate among the patients in group A was 36% +/- 10%, compared with 58% +/- 8% among the patients in group B (P =.017, log-rank test). Patients in group A were twice as likely to lose patency than patients in group B (95% CI of odds ratio, 1.2-4.5). Thirty-day mortality was similar between groups (15% vs 12%; P =.13).

CONCLUSION

Initial stent position within the hepatic venous outflow is predictive of shunt patency, with TIPS extending to the hepatocaval junction having a longer lifespan than shunts terminating in the HV.

Placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt via the left hepatic vein under sonographic guidance in a patient with right hemihepatectomy

In a patient with refractory ascites after right hemihepatectomy TIPS was created between the left hepatic vein and the left portal vein via a transjugular approach. The puncture was guided only by sonography from the epigastrium. Portosystemic pressure gradient was reduced from 28 to 7 mm Hg and ascites disappeared. This case shows that TIPS can be created with technical and clinical success after right hemihepatectomy as left hepatic vein to left portal vein shunt under sonographic guidance.

Use of balloon-expandable stents in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in cases of Wallstent endoprosthesis technical failure and revision of shunt stenosis

Thirteen patients underwent placement of a balloon-expandable stent either at initial transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation (n = 3) because of immediate technical failure of the Wallstent or at shunt revision because of failure of the Wallstent to reduce the portosystemic gradient <or=12 mm Hg despite overdilation (n = 2), stenosis of the Wallstent (n = 1), or parenchymal tract shunt stenosis (n = 7). The mean duration of primary patency when balloon-expandable stents were used at initial shunt creation was 162.7 days +/- 110.1 (SD). The time from initial TIPS creation or shunt revision with a Wallstent to placement of a balloon-expandable stent was 88.6 days +/- 115.3. The time from balloon-expandable stent placement to shunt revision (n = 6), most recent follow-up (n = 2), death (n = 1), or liver transplantation (n = 1) was 171.9 days +/- 121.6. No significant difference in shunt patency was found between the Wallstent and balloon-expandable stent (P =.31). Because no added benefit in patency was seen between the balloon-expandable stent and Wallstent, it appears that balloon-expandable stent placement is valuable only when placement of a Wallstent technically fails as a result of its limited radial force or when precision in placement is needed to treat a hepatic vein stenosis near the confluence with the inferior vena cava.

Comparison of a new stent and Wallstent for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a porcine model

AIM: To evaluate a new balloon-expandable stainless steel stent (Cordis stent) in a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) porcine model and compared with Wallstent.

METHODS: TIPS was performed in 26 normal domestic pigs weighing 20 kg-30 kg using a Cordis stent or Wallstent (13 pigs in each stent). All pigs were sacrificed at the 14th day after TIPS. The stent deployment delivery system, stent patency, and stent recoil after placement were evaluated.Proliferative response in representative histological sections from the center, hepatic and portal regions of the two stent designs were quantified.

RESULTS: The shunt was widely patent in 4 pigs in the Cordis stent group (4/12, premature dead in 1 pig), and in 5 pigs in the Wallstent group (5/13). All remaining stents of both designs were occluded or stenotic. The mean quantified proliferation including thickness of the proliferation and the ratio of proliferation: total area in three assayed regions in Cordis stent and Wallstent was 2.18 mm² 2:00 mm, and 59.18 mm². 51.66 mm², respectively (P < 0.05). The delivery system and mechanical properties of the Cordis stent fuctioned well.

CONCLUSION: The new Cordis stent is appropriate for TIPS procedure.

Primary placement of Palmaz long medium stents in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts

PURPOSE

To describe our results with primary placement of the long-medium Palmaz stent for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between December 1997 and December 1998 primary placement of long-medium Palmaz stents was performed for TIPS procedures in 17 patients. Patency was determined with ultrasound, angiography, or pathologic examination in the event of transplant.

RESULTS

Primary patency was achieved in 13 of 17 patients (76.5%) (follow up, 1-399 days; mean, 99 days). Secondary patency was achieved in 17 of 17 patients (100%) (follow-up, 1-399 days; mean, 110 days). Among the four patients who required revision, the mean time to revision from initial shunt creation was 81 days (range, 13-125 days). Two of these four patients had symptoms of worsening ascites as well as abnormal ultrasound findings prior to their revision; the other two patients were asymptomatic and had abnormal ultrasound findings only. Revisions were performed for intimal hyperplasia within the stent in three of the patients and acute thrombus within the stent in the remaining patient. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for primary patency yielded mean survival time of 265 days (standard error, 52 days).

CONCLUSION

The long-medium Palmaz stent is a viable stent for creation of TIPS shunts.