New Indications for TIPSs: What Do We Know So Far?

The crucial role of risk factors when dealing with hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common condition in patients with cirrhosis, representing the second most frequent cause of decompensation. Approximately 30-40% of patients with cirrhosis will experience overt HE during the clinical course of their illness. In most cases, it is possible to identify a precipitating or risk factor for HE. These are distinct concepts that play different roles in the development of this condition. While precipitating factors act acutely, risk factors are generally present over an extended period and contribute to the overall likelihood of developing HE. The two types of factors require different approaches, with risk factors being more susceptible to prevention. The aim of this review is to describe the most important risk factors (such as severity of liver disease, previous episode of HE, minimal/covert HE, spontaneous and iatrogenic shunt, malnutrition, chronic therapies, metabolic diseases) for the development of HE and how to prevent it.

Optimization stages of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt technique as a treatment method for portal hypertension complications

Aim. To describe the milestones to optimize of the technique of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Materials and methods. The PubMed and Embase databases, the Web of Science platform, the Google Scholar retrieval system, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the eLIBRARY.RU scientific electronic library, and the reference lists were used to search for articles. Articles corresponding to the aim of the review were selected for 1969-2023. The inclusion criteria were limited to technical solutions related to optimize of the technique of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Results. Innovative ideas, subsequent experimental studies and preliminary experience in liver cirrhosis patients contributed to the introduction of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt into clinical practice. At the moment, the main achievement to optimize of the technique of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is progress in the qualitative characteristics of stents. The transition from bare metal stents to expandable polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent graft made it possible to largely prevent shunt dysfunction. However, the issue of its optimal diameter, contributing to an effective reduction of portal pressure without the risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy, which is one of the most common complications of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, remains relevant.

Conclusion. Further to optimize of the technique of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, as well as careful selection of patients based on cognitive indicators, nutritional status and assessment of liver function will reduce the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy and improve treatment results.

Milestones to optimize of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt technique as a method for the treatment of portal hypertension complications

This editorial describes the milestones to optimize of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) technique, which have made it one of the main methods for the treatment of portal hypertension complications worldwide. Innovative ideas, subsequent experimental studies and preliminary experience of use in cirrhotic patients contributed to the introduction of TIPS into clinical practice. At the moment, the main achievement in optimize of TIPS technique is progress in the qualitative characteristics of stents. The transition from bare metal stents to extended polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent grafts made it possible to significantly prevent shunt dysfunction. However, the question of its preferred diameter, which contributes to an optimal reduction of portal pressure without the risk of developing post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy, remains relevant. Currently, hepatic encephalopathy is one of the most common complications of TIPS, significantly affecting its effectiveness and prognosis. Careful selection of patients based on cognitive indicators, nutritional status, assessment of liver function, etc., will reduce the incidence of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy and improve treatment results. Optimize of TIPS technique has significantly expanded the indications for its use and made it one of the main methods for the treatment of portal hypertension complications. At the same time, there are a number of limitations and unresolved issues that require further randomized controlled trials involving a large cohort of patients.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt as a Bridge to Abdominal Surgery in Cirrhosis

Abdominal surgery is associated with high postoperative mortality and morbidity in cirrhotic patients. Despite improvements in surgical techniques, clinical management, and intensive care, the outcome could be influenced by the degree of portal hypertension, the severity of hepatopathy, or the type of surgery. Preoperative transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement, in addition to medical therapy, plays an important role in managing the complications of portal hypertension such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding or portal vein thrombosis. To date, the improvement of post-surgery outcomes in cirrhotic patients after TIPS placement remains unclear. Only observational data existing in the literature and prospective studies are urgently needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TIPS in this setting. This review aims to outline the role of TIPS as a tool in postoperative complications reduction in cirrhotic patients, both in the setting of emergency and elective surgery.

Development of a new Cox model for predicting long-term survival in hepatitis cirrhosis patients underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts

BACKGROUND

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement is a procedure that can effectively treat complications of portal hypertension, such as variceal bleeding and refractory ascites. However, there have been no specific studies on predicting long-term survival after TIPS placement.

AIM

To establish a model to predict long-term survival in patients with hepatitis cirrhosis after TIPS.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 224 patients who underwent TIPS implantation. Through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, various factors were examined for their ability to predict survival at 6 years after TIPS. Consequently, a composite score was formulated, encompassing the indication, shunt reasonability, portal venous pressure gradient (PPG) after TIPS, percentage decrease in portal venous pressure (PVP), indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) and total bilirubin (Tbil) level. Furthermore, the performance of the newly developed Cox (NDC) model was evaluated in an internal validation cohort and compared with that of a series of existing models.

RESULTS

The indication (variceal bleeding or ascites), shunt reasonability (reasonable or unreasonable), ICGR15, postoperative PPG, percentage of PVP decrease and Tbil were found to be independent factors affecting long-term survival after TIPS placement. The NDC model incorporated these parameters and successfully identified patients at high risk, exhibiting a notably elevated mortality rate following the TIPS procedure, as observed in both the training and validation cohorts. Additionally, in terms of predicting the long-term survival rate, the performance of the NDC model was significantly better than that of the other four models [Child-Pugh, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-sodium and the Freiburg index of post-TIPS survival].

CONCLUSION

The NDC model can accurately predict long-term survival after the TIPS procedure in patients with hepatitis cirrhosis, help identify high-risk patients and guide follow-up management after TIPS implantation.

Impact of nutritional status on the outcome of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with cirrhosis: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Malnutrition and sarcopenia have been reported to adversely affect the outcome of patients with cirrhosis of the liver. There is an emerging body of evidence suggesting malnutrition and sarcopenia increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The current systematic review aims to determine whether the body of evidence supports an association between nutritional status and post-TIPS outcomes in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception to June 3, 2023, for studies analysing the effect of nutritional status on post-TIPS outcomes in patients with cirrhosis.

RESULTS

A total of 22 studies were included in the systemic review. Assessment of sarcopenia was done by skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the L3 level, transversal psoas muscle thickness, psoas muscle density, malnutrition as per ICD, relative sarcopenia with excess adiposity, lipid profile, controlling nutritional status score, body composition analysis, hospital frailty risk score, and visceral and subcutaneous fat area index. Ten out of 12 studies in this systematic review showed a significant association with the incidence of post-TIPS HE. Thirteen out of 14 studies reported that the presence of malnutrition was associated with increased odds of mortality following TIPS. One study reported sarcopenia as an independent predictor of liver failure, and another study reported that Pre-TIPS SMI was an independent predictor of substantial improvement in post-TIPS SMI.

CONCLUSIONS

The current systematic review shows that the presence of pre-TIPS malnutrition or sarcopenia is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes after TIPS. Incorporating these parameters into present prediction models can provide additional prognostic information.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Nutritional assessment should be part of the evaluation of patients planned for TIPS for prediction of adverse events after the procedure.

Comparative efficacy of early TIPS, Non-early TIPS, and Standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cirrhosis is a chronic disease characterized by chronic liver inflammation and diffuse fibrosis. A combination of vasoactive drugs, preventive antibiotics, and endoscopy is the recommended standard treatment for patients with acute variceal bleeding; however, this has been challenged. We compared the effects of early transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), non-early TIPS, and standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present network meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the criteria outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Assessing the methodological quality of systematic reviews guidelines. The review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization-approved trial registry databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating early TIPS, non-early TIPS, and standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding.

RESULTS

Twenty-four RCTs (1894 patients) were included in the review. Compared with standard treatment, early TIPS [odds ratio (OR), 0.53; 95% credible interval (Cr), 0.30-0.94; surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), 98.3] had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (moderate-to-high-quality evidence), and early TIPS (OR, 0.19; 95% CrI, 0.11-0.28; SUCRA, 98.2) and non-early TIPS (OR, 0.30; 95% CrI, 0.23-0.42; SUCRA, 1.8) were associated with a lower risk of rebleeding (moderate-to-high-quality evidence). Early TIPS was not associated with a reduced risk of hepatic encephalopathy, and non-early TIPS (OR, 2.78; 95% CrI, 1.89-4.23, SUCRA, 0) was associated with an increased incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (moderate-to-high-quality evidence). There was no difference in the incidence of new or worsening ascites (moderate-to-high-quality evidence) among the three interventions.

CONCLUSION

Based on the moderate-to-high quality evidence presented in this study, early TIPS placement was associated with reduced all-cause mortality [with a median follow-up of 1.9 years (25th-75th percentile range 1.9-2.3 years)] and rebleeding compared to standard treatment and non-early TIPS. Although early TIPS and standard treatment had a comparable incidence of hepatic encephalopathy, early TIPS showed superiority over non-early TIPS in this aspect. Recent studies have also shown promising results in controlling TIPS-related hepatic encephalopathy. However, it is important to consider individual patient characteristics and weigh the potential benefits against the risks associated with early TIPS. Therefore, we recommend that clinicians carefully evaluate the patient's condition, considering factors such as severity of variceal bleeding, underlying liver disease, and overall clinical status, before making a treatment decision. Further well-designed RCTs comparing early TIPS with non-early TIPS are needed to validate these findings and provide more definitive guidance.

Post-Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) Hepatic Encephalopathy-A Review of the Past Decade's Literature Focusing on Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prophylaxis

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established treatment for portal hypertension and its' complications in liver cirrhosis, yet the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) remains a significant concern. This review covers the reported incidence, risk factors, and management strategies for post-TIPS HE over the past decade. Incidence varies widely (7-61%), with factors like age, liver function, hyponatremia, and spontaneous portosystemic shunts influencing risk. Procedural aspects, including TIPS timing, indication, and stent characteristics, also contribute. Pharmacological prophylaxis with lactulose and rifaximin shows promise, but current evidence is inconclusive. Procedural preventive measures, such as shunt embolization and monitoring portal pressure gradients, are explored. Treatment involves pharmacological options like lactulose and rifaximin, and procedural interventions like stent diameter reduction. Ongoing studies on novel predictive markers and emerging treatments, such as faecal microbiota transplant, reflect the evolving landscape in post-TIPS HE management. This concise review provides clinicians with insights into the multifaceted nature of post-TIPS HE, aiding in improved risk assessment, prophylaxis, and management for patients undergoing TIPS procedures.