Clinical results of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for the treatment of variceal bleeding

Outcomes of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt and Gastric Coronary Vein Embolization for Variceal Bleeding in Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with gastric coronary vein embolization (GCVE) for cirrhotic portal hypertensive variceal bleeding and compare outcomes of first-line with second-line treatment, coil with glue, and single-covered with double stents.Methods: Fifteen patients received TIPS plus GCVE as the first-line treatment for secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, and 45 received it as second-line treatment. Preoperative and postoperative quantitative variables were compared using a paired t test. The incidence of survival rate, re-bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and shunt dysfunction were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results: The portal venous pressure was significantly decreased from 39.0 ± 5.0 mm Hg to 22.5 ± 4.4 mm Hg (P≤0.001) after TIPS treatment. After 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months re-bleeding rates were 1.6%, 3.3%, 6.6%, 13.3%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. Shunt dysfunction rates were 5%, 0%, 10%, 16.6%, 1.6%, and 5%, respectively. Hepatic encephalopathy rates were 3.3%, 1.6%, 3.3%, 6.6%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. And survival rates were 100%, 100%, 100%, 96.6%, 93.3%, and 88.3% respectively. In comparative analysis, statistically significant differences were seen in re-bleeding between the first-line and second-line treatment groups (26.6% vs 24.4%, log-rank P=0.012), and survival rates between single-covered and double stent (3.7% vs 16.1%, log-rang (P=0.043).Conclusion: The results suggest that TIPS combined with GCVE is effective and safer in the treatment of cirrhotic portal hypertensive variceal bleeding. The use of TIP plus GCVE as first-line treatment, may be preferable for high-risk re-bleeding, and more than 25 mm Hg portal venous pressure with repeated variceal bleeding. However, the sample size was small. Therefore, large, randomized, controlled, multidisciplinary center studies are needed for further evaluation.

Monitoring haemodynamic changes during transjugular portosystemic shunt insertion with electric cardiometry in sedated and spontaneous breathing patients. A diagnostic test accuracy study

Background and Aims

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) allows a high blood volume into systemic circulation abruptly. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the effect of TIPS on systemic, portal hemodynamics, and electric cardiometry (EC) parameters in sedated and spontaneous breathing patients. Secondary aims??

Material and Methods

Adult consecutive hepatic patients scheduled for elective TIPS were included. Patients were sedated with bispectral index-guided propofol infusion + fentanyl boluses. EC parameters, i.e., cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were noted. Noninvasive blood pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure (CVP, cmH2O), and portal venous pressure (PVP, cmH2O) were measured pre- and post-TIPS.

Results

Thirty-six people were enrolled (n = 25 included) from Aug 2018 to Dec 2019. Data (expressed in median (IQ)) were: age 33 (27-40) years, body mass index 24 (22.0-27) kg/m2, child A 60%, B 36%, and C 4%. Post-TIPS, PVP decreased (from 40 [37-45] to 34 [27-37] mmHg, P < 0.001), whereas CVP increased (from 7 [4-10] to 16 [10.0-19.0] mmHg, P < 0.001). The CO increased (P = 0.03) and SVR reduced (P = 0.012).

Conclusion

The reduction in PVP following successful TIPS insertion elevated the CVP abruptly. EC was able to monitor an immediate increase in the CO and a reduction in SVR in association with the above PVP and CVP changes. The results of this unique study indicate that EC monitoring is promising; however, further evaluation in a larger population and in correlation with other gold-standard CO monitors is still indicated.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for palliative treatment of portal hypertension secondary to portal vein tumor thrombosis

AIM: To evaluate the palliative therapeutic effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) complicated by portal hypertension.

METHODS: We performed TIPS for 14 patients with PVTT due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Of the 14 patients, 8 patients had complete occlusion of the main portal vein, 6 patients had incomplete thrombosis, and 5 patients had portal vein cavernous transformation. Clinical characteristics and average survial time of 14 patients were analysed. Portal vein pressure, ascites, diarrohea, and variceal bleeding and circumference of abdomen were assessed before and after TIPS.

RESULTS: TIPS was successful in 10 cases, and the successful rate was about 71%. The mean portal vein pressure was reduced from 37.2 mmHg to 18.2 mmHg. After TIPS, the ascites decreased, hemorrhage stopped and the clinical symptoms disappeared in the 10 cases. The average survial time was 132.3 d. The procedure failed in 4 cases because of cavernous transformation in portal vein and severe cirrhosis.

CONCLUSION: TIPS is an effective palliative treatment to control hemorrhage and ascites due to HCC complicated by PVTT.