Prevention of post-tips hepatic encephalopathy: The search of the ideal candidate

Prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy: current and future drug targets

Hepatic encephalopathy is described by a broad spectrum of neurological and psychiatric aberrations resulting due to advanced liver dysfunction. It is a neurological disorder due to hepatic insufficiency and/or portosystemic shunts. Its clinical presentation includes neuropsychiatric dysfunction ranging from subclinical changes to comatose state. It is a sign of poor prognosis in cirrhotics with a high 1-year mortality. Each episode of hepatic encephalopathy leads to high hospitalization rate, poor prognosis and raised burden of healthcare. Primary prophylaxis is prevention of initial occurrence and secondary prophylaxis is prevention of reappearance of hepatic encephalopathy in subjects who had prior history. Early detection and management of triggers is very important in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. The initial choice of treatment is still lactulose, as it is effective in minimal, overt, and recurrent hepatic encephalopathy. Rifaximin is equally effective as lactulose in managing hepatic encephalopathy and is better tolerated. Branch chain amino acids are beneficial in subjects who are protein intolerant. L-ornithine L-aspartate and probiotics are also useful in the management of hepatic encephalopathy. Rifaximin along with lactulose is effective in managing overt and recurrent hepatic encephalopathy. Large portosystemic shunts embolization and liver transplant is efficacious in certain group of patients. Nutritional therapy and fecal microbiota transplantation are newer therapies for hepatic encephalopathy but the evidences are limited, more research is required to prove their efficacy. Involvement of hospital pharmacists, telemedicine, and providing education are also beneficial in managing hepatic encephalopathy.

The Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy from Ward to Domiciliary Care: Current Evidence and Gray Areas

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of advanced liver disease and acute liver failure. It is a condition that features several neuropsychiatric symptoms that affect mortality, morbidity and the quality of patients' and caregivers' lives. An HE diagnosis is generally an exclusion diagnosis. Once the patient is admitted to the hospital, clinical examination, blood tests and eventually neuroimaging should be performed with the aim of ruling out other causes of acute brain dysfunction. Moreover, HE is recognized using various precipitants that can potentially promote its onset, alone or in combination, and must be identified. Once the diagnostic process is complete, a correct treatment should be started. The anti-HE treatment is based on a combination of the correction of precipitants; non-absorbable antibiotics, such as rifaximin; and non-absorbable disaccharides. Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, specific anti-HE therapy should be maintained in order to prevent other HE episodes.

Risks and benefits of TIPS in HCC and other liver malignancies: a literature review

BACKGROUND

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a well-validated treatment option for clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in the context of liver cirrhosis. Its high efficacy and safety in the management of treatment-refractory ascites and variceal bleeding have been extensively proven. Contraindications for TIPS include severe right heart failure, hepatic encephalopathy, and sepsis. However, the role of liver malignancy in TIPS is debatable. Mostly, primary liver malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) emerge from advanced liver diseases. Coexisting portal hypertension in HCC often results in limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Previous studies have shown that TIPS implantation in patients with HCC is technically feasible and is usually not associated with major adverse events. Furthermore, TIPS may help in bridging the time to liver transplantation in early HCC and allow for locoregional treatment in advanced HCC. However, several studies suggest that seeding tumour cells to the lungs by TIPS placement might worsen the prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

TIPS placement in patients with coexisting liver malignancy remains a case-by-case decision, and there is no profound evidence allowing general recommendations. This review aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the potential risks and benefits of TIPS placement in patients with liver malignancies.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement: Effects on Nutritional Status in Cirrhotic Patients

Malnutrition is a tangible complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension with a prevalence of up to 50%. In particular, sarcopenia and myosteatosis, defined as the alteration in muscle quantity and quality, have a negative impact on the main complications of liver disease and are associated with higher mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Recently, alterations in adipose tissue have also been described in cirrhotic patients and they seem to influence the course of liver disease. Several pieces of evidence indicate that a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), placed for the treatment of refractory portal hypertension, can lead to a modification of body composition consisting in the improvement of the skeletal muscle index, myosteatosis, and an increase in subcutaneous fat. These modifications of the nutritional status, even more pronounced in sarcopenic patients before TIPS, have been associated with an amelioration of cognitive impairment after TIPS as well as with an increase in the survival rate. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the effects of TIPS placement on nutritional status in cirrhosis focusing on its pathophysiological mechanisms and its relationship with liver-related outcomes.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: Devices Evolution, Technical Tips and Future Perspectives

Portal hypertension (PH) constitutes a pivotal factor in the progression of cirrhosis, giving rise to severe complications and a diminished survival rate. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure has undergone significant evolution, with advancements in stent technology assuming a central role in managing PH-related complications. This review aims to outline the progression of TIPS and emphasizes the significant influence of stent advancement on its effectiveness. Initially, the use of bare metal stents (BMSs) was limited due to frequent dysfunction. However, the advent of expanding polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent grafts (ePTFE-SGs) heralded a transformative era, greatly enhancing patency rates. Further innovation culminated in the creation of ePTFE-SGs with controlled expansion, enabling precise adjustment of TIPS diameters. Comparative analyses demonstrated the superiority of ePTFE-SGs over BMSs, resulting in improved patency, fewer complications, and higher survival rates. Additional technical findings highlight the importance of central stent placement and adequate stent length, as well as the use of smaller calibers to reduce the risk of shunt-related complications. However, improving TIPS through technical means alone is inadequate for optimizing patient outcomes. An extensive understanding of hemodynamic, cardiac, and systemic factors is required to predict outcomes and tailor a personalized approach. Looking forward, the ongoing progress in SG technology, paired with the control of clinical factors that can impact outcomes, holds the promise of reshaping the management of PH-related complications in cirrhosis.

Prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy during the perioperative period of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established procedure for treating the complications of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. While the pathogenesis of postoperative TIPS-related hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has yet to be fully understood, intraoperative portosystemic shunts may provide a pathological basis for the occurrence of postoperative HE in patients with liver cirrhosis. Studies at home and abroad have expressed mixed opinions about TIPS-related HE. This study presents a literature review on the risk factors for and prevention and treatment of perioperative TIPS-related HE in patients with liver cirrhosis, aiming to optimize the procedure and reduce the incidence of postoperative HE.

Old and New Precipitants in Hepatic Encephalopathy: A New Look at a Field in Continuous Evolution

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication in patients with advanced liver disease. It is a brain dysfunction characterized by neurological and psychiatric symptoms that significantly affects quality of life, morbidity and mortality of patients. HE has various precipitants that can potentially promote its onset, alone or in combination. Among the historically well-known precipitants, such as infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, dehydration, electrolyte disorders and constipation, recent studies have highlighted the role of malnutrition and portosystemic shunts as new precipitating factors of HE. The identification, management and correction of these factors are fundamental for effective HE treatment, in addition to pharmacological therapy with non-absorbable disaccharides and/or antibiotics.