Peritoneovenous shunt as a bridge to liver transplantation

Management of severe symptomatic abdominal lymphatic malformation complicated by abscess formation, protein-losing gastroenteropathy, and bleeding

Background

The optimal strategy for the management of patients with severe symptomatic abdominal lymphatic malformation (ALM) complicated by abscess formation, protein-losing gastroenteropathy, and bleeding has not yet been established. The present study aimed to determine an appropriate management for patients with severe symptomatic ALM, particularly for those with abdominal complications.

Materials and methods

Eight infants and young adults who underwent emergency surgery for ALM in our department, between the years 1997 and 2020, were selected for the study. We also evaluated and compared the operative procedures, operative timing, and postoperative surgical outcomes.

Results

Emergency resection was performed in all patients with bleeding. Some patients presented with ALMs that invaded the adjacent organs. Resections that included the involved organs were necessary to achieve full resolution in three patients. After evaluating the diagnostic modalities for symptomatic ALM, we also performed elective surgery for patients without bleeding.

Conclusions

Clinicians should be aware of severe symptomatic ALM with or without bleeding, as well as its associated complications, in order to select the best surgical management plan.

Current treatment options of refractory ascites in liver cirrhosis - A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Refractory ascites is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis and treatment options consist in large volume paracentesis, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, alfapump®, peritoneovenous shunt and permanent indwelling peritoneal catheter.

AIM

Our aim was to assess the efficacy, mortality and complications of each treatment.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review using Pubmed and Embase. Frequencies were summarized with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven studies were included. In patients with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, 1-year mortality was 33% (95% CI 0.29-0.39, I²=82.1; τ² = 0.37; p<0.001) with lower mortality in newer studies (26% vs. 44%). At 6 months, mortality in patients with alfapump® was 24% (95% CI 0.16-0.33, I²=0.00; τ² = 0.00; p = 0.83), 31% developed acute kidney injury (95% CI 0.18-0.48, I²=44.0; τ² = 0.22; p = 0.15). Mortality at 12 months was 44% (95% CI 32%-58%, I²=76.7, τ² = 0.44, p<0.001) in peritoneovenous shunts and 45% (95% CI 38%-53%, I²=61.4, τ² = 0.18, p = 0.003) in large volume paracentesis, respectively. Overall mortality in patients with permanent indwelling catheters was 66% (95% CI 33%-89%, I²=82.5, τ² = 1.57, p = 0.001).

DISCUSSION

Mortality in patients with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was lower in newer studies, probably due to a better patient selection. Acute kidney injury was frequent in patients with alfapump®. Permanent indwelling catheters seemed to be a good option in a palliative setting.

Management of Refractory Ascites Due to Portal Hypertension: Current Status

Refractory ascites is a costly and debilitating condition that occurs most frequently in the setting of substantial cirrhotic portal hypertension, where it portends a poor prognosis. Many treatment options are available, among them medical management, serial large volume paracenteses, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, and implanted drainage devices. Although the availability of multiple therapies ensures that most patients will achieve satisfactory results, it can be challenging for the provider to select the appropriate treatment for each specific patient. This article reviews the available therapeutic options for refractory ascites and incorporates available data and clinical experience to suggest a linear stepwise management approach to enhance patient outcomes.

Management of refractory cirrhotic ascites: challenges and solutions

Among the various risky complications of liver cirrhosis, refractory ascites is associated with poor survival of cirrhotics and persistently worsens their quality of life (QOL). Major clinical guidelines worldwide define refractory ascites as ascites that cannot be managed by medical therapy either because of a lack of response to maximum doses of diuretics or because patients develop complications related to diuretic therapy that preclude the use of an effective dose of diuretics. Due to the difficulty in receiving a liver transplantation (LT), the ultimate solution for refractory ascites, most cirrhotic patients have selected the palliative therapy such as repeated serial paracentesis, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, or peritoneovenous shunt to improve their QOL. During the past several decades, new interventions and methodologies, such as indwelling peritoneal catheter, peritoneal-urinary drainage, and cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy, have been introduced. In addition, new medical treatments with vasoconstrictors or vasopressin V2 receptor antagonists have been proposed. Both the benefits and risks of these old and new modalities have been extensively studied in relation to the pathophysiological changes in ascites formation. Although the best solution for refractory ascites is to eliminate hepatic failure either by LT or by causal treatment, the selection of the best palliative therapy for individual patients is of utmost importance, aiming at achieving the longest possible, comfortable life. This review briefly summarizes the changing landscape of variable treatment modalities for cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites, aiming at clarifying their possibilities and limitations. Evolving issues with regard to the impact of gut-derived systemic and local infection on the clinical course of cirrhotic patients have paved the way for the development of a new gut microbiome-based therapeutics. Thus, it should be further investigated whether the early therapeutic approach to gut dysbiosis provides a better solution for the management of cirrhotic ascites.

The influence of a peritoneovenous shunt for cirrhotic and malignant intractable ascites on renal function

Background

Peritoneovenous shunts (PVS) are widely used for palliation of intractable ascites caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) or liver cirrhosis (LC). Some patients who need PVS have renal dysfunction. However, renal dysfunction is considered a relative contraindication. Therefore, it is important to assess renal function before PVS placement.

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship between PVS and renal function.

Material and Methods

Between October 2007 and July 2015, 60 patients (PC = 47; LC = 10; others = 3) underwent PVS placement for intractable ascites. Changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other adverse events (AEs) were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Changes in eGFR before, one day after, and one week after PVS placement could be evaluated in 46 patients. The median eGFR before, one day after, and one week after was 56.5, 59.1, and 64.7 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively (P < 0.05). These values were 61.6, 72, and 67.1 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively, in PC patients (n = 34; P < 0.05) and 28.5, 27, and 37.2 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively, in LC patients (n = 10; P < 0.05). In 17 patients with moderate to severe renal dysfunction (eGFR < 45), these values were 23.4, 23.7, and 30.5 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. The most frequent AE was PVS catheter obstruction, which occurred in 12 patients (20.7%). Clinical disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred in six patients (10.3%) and caused death in three patients (5.2%).

Conclusion

PVS placement for intractable ascites is associated with various AEs. However, PVS appeared to promote renal function, especially in patients with renal impairment.

Ascites in Children

Ascites is an accumulation of serous fluid within the peritoneal cavity. It is the most common complication of liver cirrhosis. In children, hepatic, renal and cardiac disorders are the most common causes. Portal hypertension and sodium and fluid retention are key factors in the pathophysiology of ascites. Peripheral arterial vasodilatation hypothesis is the most accepted mechanism for inappropriate sodium retention and formation of ascites. Diagnostic paracentesis is indicated in children with newly diagnosed ascites and in children with suspected complications of ascites. Ascitic fluid is evaluated for cell count, protein level, and culture. The serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) is the best single test for classifying ascites into portal hypertensive (SAAG >1.1 g/dl) and non-portal hypertensive (SAAG <1.1 g/dl). A neutrophil count ≥250 cells/mm³ is highly suggestive of bacterial peritonitis. The treatment of ascites due to non-liver disease depends on the underlying condition. In liver disease, diuretics as monotherapy or dual therapy and salt restriction form the mainstay of treatment in children with mild to moderate ascites. Fluid restriction is helpful in children with hyponatremia. In non-responsive ascites or in children with large ascites, large volume paracentesis (LVP) with albumin infusion should be performed. In children with refractory ascites, LVP with albumin administration, transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS), peritoneo-venous shunting and liver transplantation are other therapeutic modalities that need to be considered.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis 2015

The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology revised the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis in 2015. Eighty-three clinical questions were selected, and a literature search was performed for the clinical questions with use of the MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases for the period between 1983 and June 2012. Manual searching of the latest important literature was added until August 2015. The guidelines were developed with use of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. This digest version in English introduces selected clinical questions and statements related to the management of liver cirrhosis and its complications. Branched-chain amino acids relieve hypoalbuminemia and hepatic encephalopathy and improve quality of life. Nucleoside analogues and peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy improve the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus related liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C related compensated liver cirrhosis, respectively, although the latter therapy may be replaced by direct-acting antivirals. For liver cirrhosis caused by primary biliary cirrhosis and active autoimmune hepatitis, urosodeoxycholic acid and steroid are recommended, respectively. The most adequate modalities for the management of variceal bleeding are the endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices and the balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration following endoscopic obturation with cyanoacrylate for gastric varices. Beta-blockers are useful for primary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal bleeding. The V2 receptor antagonist tolvaptan is a useful add-on therapy in careful diuretic therapy for ascites. Albumin infusion is useful for the prevention of paracentesis-induced circulatory disturbance and renal failure. In addition to disaccharides, the nonabsorbable antibiotic rifaximin is useful for the management of encephalopathy. Anticoagulation therapy is proposed for patients with acute-onset or progressive portal vein thrombosis.

Percutaneous placement and management of the Denver shunt for portal hypertensive ascites

OBJECTIVE

Many patients with cirrhotic effusions in the peritoneal and pleural spaces lead a difficult existence. In addition to their decreased mobility and physical discomfort, they spend hours in the hospital or an outpatient facility undergoing peritoneal and pleural drainage. Liver transplantation is the ultimate solution for those with cirrhotic effusions refractory to medical management; however, most are on a long waiting list, forcing them to undergo a year or more of percutaneous centesis. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts offer relief to those with cirrhotic ascites but at the cost of accelerated hepatic failure and hepatic encephalopathy. This article will review the development of the peritoneovenous and pleurovenous shunt, discuss reasons for its loss of favor, and suggest its current role in the armamentarium of the interventional radiologist.

CONCLUSION

Peritoneovenous and pleurovenous shunt creation is a procedure that has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of the patient by controlling the fluid collections, reducing dependence on frequent drainage procedures, improving renal function, and reducing protein loss.

Management and treatment of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension: recommendations from the Department of Veterans Affairs Hepatitis C Resource Center Program and the National Hepatitis C Program

Cirrhosis represents the end stage of any chronic liver disease. Hepatitis C and alcohol are currently the main causes of cirrhosis in the United States. Although initially cirrhosis is compensated, it eventually becomes decompensated, as defined by the presence of ascites, variceal hemorrhage, encephalopathy, and/or jaundice. These management recommendations are divided according to the status, compensated or decompensated, of the cirrhotic patient, with a separate section for the screening, diagnosis, and management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as this applies to patients with both compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. In the compensated patient, the main objective is to prevent variceal hemorrhage and any practice that could lead to decompensation. In the decompensated patient, acute variceal hemorrhage and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are severe complications that require hospitalization. Hepatorenal syndrome is also a severe complication of cirrhosis but one that usually occurs in patients who are already in the hospital and, as it represents an extreme of the hemodynamic alterations that lead to ascites formation, it is placed under treatment of ascites. Recent advances in the pathophysiology of the complications of cirrhosis have allowed for a more rational management of cirrhosis and also for the stratification of patients into different risk groups that require different management. These recommendations are based on evidence in the literature, mainly from randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses of these trials. When few or no data exist from well-designed prospective trials, emphasis is given to results from large series and consensus conferences with involvement of recognized experts. A rational management of cirrhosis will result in improvements in quality of life, treatment adherence, and, ultimately, in outcomes.

Management of ascites and hepatic hydrothorax

The natural course of patients with cirrhosis is frequently complicated by the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal or pleural cavities and interstitial tissue. Functional renal abnormalities that occur as a consequence of decreased effective arterial blood volume are responsible for fluid accumulation in the form of ascites and hepatic hydrothorax. Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and poses an increased risk for infections, renal failure and mortality. Patients have a poor prognosis and it is estimated that nearly half will die in approximately 2 years without liver transplantation. Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as a pleural effusion greater than 500 mL (mostly right-sided) in patients with cirrhosis without cardiopulmonary disease; the estimated prevalence is approximately 5-10%. Liver transplantation is the most definitive cure for both conditions in those patients that are suitable candidates. However, the mainstay of therapy for minimizing fluid accumulation in both conditions includes sodium restriction and administration of diuretics. This article reviews the most current concepts of pathogenesis, clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment of these complications of cirrhosis.