Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt vs. small-diameter prosthetic H-graft portacaval shunt: Extended follow-up of an expanded randomized prospective trial

We report herein the results of extended follow-up of an expanded randomized clinical trial comparing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to 8 mm prosthetic H-graft portacaval shunt as definitive treatment for variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension. Beginning in 1993, through this trial, both shunts were undertaken as definitive therapy, never as a “bridge to transplantation.” All patients had bleeding esophageal/gastric varices and failed or could not undergo sclerotherapy/banding. Patients were excluded from randomization if the portal vein was occluded or if survival was hopeless. Failure of shunting was defined as inability to shunt, irreversible shunt occlusion, major variceal rehemorrhage, hepatic transplantation, or death. Median follow-up after each shunt was 4 years; minimum follow-up was 1 year. Patients undergoing placement of either shunt were very similar in terms of age, sex, cause of cirrhosis, Child’s class, and circumstances of shunting. Both shunts provided partial portal decompression, although the portal vein-inferior vena cava pressure gradient was lower after H-graft portacaval shunt (P<0.01). TIPS could not be placed in two patients. Shunt stenosis/occlusion was more frequent after TIPS. After TIPS, 42 patients failed (64%), whereas after H-graft portacaval shunt 23 failed (35%) (P <0.01). Major variceal rehemorrhage, hepatic transplantation, and late death were significantly more frequent after TIPS (P <0.01). Both TIPS and H-graft portacaval shunt achieve partial portal decompression. TIPS requires more interventions and leads to more major rehemorrhage, irreversible occlusion, transplantation, and death. Despite vigilance in monitoring shunt patency, TIPS provides less optimal outcomes than H-graft portacaval shunt for patients with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding. Presented at the Forty-First Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Diego, Calif., May 21–24, 2000.     

Surgical shunts and TIPS for variceal decompression in the 1990s

BACKGROUND: In the 1990s, liver transplantations and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) have become the most common methods to decompress portal hypertension. This center has continued to use surgical shunts for variceal bleeding in good-risk patients who continue to bleed through endoscopic and pharmacologic treatment. This article reports this center's experience with surgical shunts and TIPS shunts from 1992 through 1999. METHODS: Sixty-three patients (Child A, 43 patients; Child B, 20 patients) received surgical shunts: distal splenorenal, 54 patients; splenocaval, 4 patients; coronary caval, 1 patient; and mesocaval, 4 patients. Sixty-two patients had refractory variceal bleeding, and 1 patient had ascites with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Two hundred patients (Child A, 24 patients; Child B, 62 patients; Child C, 114 patients) received TIPS shunts. One hundred forty-nine patients had refractory variceal bleeding, and 51 patients had ascites, hydrothorax, or hepatorenal syndrome. Data were collected by prospective databases, protocol follow-up, and phone contact. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate was 0% for surgical shunts and 26% for TIPS shunts; the overall survival rate was 86% (median follow-up, 36 months) for surgical shunts and 53% (median follow-up, 40 months) for TIPS shunts. For surgical shunts, the portal hypertensive rebleeding rate was 6.3%; the overall rebleeding rate was 14.3%. For TIPS shunts, the overall rebleeding rate was 25.5% (30-day, 9.4%; late, 22.4%). There were 4 reinterventions for surgical shunts (6.3%); the reintervention rate for TIPS shunts in the bleeding group was 33%, and the reintervention rate in the ascites group was 9.5%. Encephalopathy was severe in 3.1% of the shunt group and mild in 17.5%; this was not systematically evaluated in the TIPS shunts patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical shunts still have a role for patients whose condition was classified as Child A and B with refractory bleeding, who achieve excellent outcomes with low morbidity and mortality rates. TIPS shunts have been used in high-risk patients with significant early and late mortality rates and have been useful in the control of refractory bleeding and as a bridge to transplantation. The comparative role of TIPS shunts versus surgical shunt in patients whose condition was classified as Child A and B is under study in a randomized controlled trial.     

Early variceal rebleeding after successful distal splenorenal shunt

Of 77 patients with repeated variceal hemorrhage who underwent distal splenorenal shunt, five (6.5%) developed rebleeding despite a patent splenorenal anastomosis. Three of the five patients died. Early variceal rebleeding usually indicates shunt thrombosis but may occur with a patent anastomosis. Anatomic or functional left renal vein and/or splenic vein hypertension producing incomplete variceal decompression is generally the cause. Ineffective separation of the main portal vein from the gastrosplenic venous plexus may coexist and further intensify variceal congestion. Urgent angiographic studies and direct shunt catheterization with measurement of splenic vein, left renal vein, and inferior vena cava pressures should be performed to plan appropriate therapy. A significant gradient between the splenic and renal veins is evidence of an unsatisfactory anastomosis and should be managed by balloon angioplasty or reoperation. High splenic and left renal vein pressures with a gradient of more than 10 mm Hg between the renal vein and the inferior vena cava indicate renal vein hypertension. Initial therapy should include serial injection sclerotherapy, as renal vein hypertension will usually resolve over time as additional collaterals develop. However, persistent or recurrent variceal hemorrhage may require total portal decompression to bypass the restrictive left renal vein segment.     

Conversion of failed transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt to distal splenorenal shunt in patients with Child A or B cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: The authors demonstrate the feasibility of converting failed transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) in patients with good hepatic reserve for long-term control of variceal bleeding. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: TIPS is an effective method for decompressing the portal venous system and controlling bleeding from esophageal and gastric varices. TIPS insufficiency is, however, a common problem, and treatment alternatives in patients with an occluded TIPS are limited because most have already failed endoscopic therapy. METHODS: The records of five patients who underwent conversion from TIPS to DSRS because of TIPS failure or complication in the past 36 months were reviewed. RESULTS: Four patients had ethanol-induced cirrhosis and one patient had hepatitis C virus cirrhosis. Three patients were Child-Pugh class A and two were class B. All patients had excellent liver function, with galactose elimination capacities ranging from 388 to 540 mg/min (normal 500 +/- 100 mg/min). The patients had TIPS placed for acute (2) or sclerotherapy-resistant (3) variceal hemorrhage. All five TIPS stenosed 3 to 23 months after placement, with recurrent variceal hemorrhage and failed TIPS revision. One patient had stent migration to the superior mesenteric vein that was removed at the time of DSRS. All five patients underwent successful DSRS, and none have had recurrent hemorrhage 18 to 36 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: TIPS provides inadequate long-term therapy for some Child-Pugh A or B patients with recurrent variceal hemorrhage. TIPS failure in patients with good liver function can be salvaged by DSRS in many cases.     

Current state of portosystemic shunt surgery

BACKGROUND: A switch to decompressive shunt procedures is mandatory if endoscopic therapy fails to control recurrent variceal hemorrhage. Surgical shunt procedures continue to be safe, highly effective, and durable procedures to treat variceal bleeding in patients with low operative risk and good liver function. DISCUSSION: In cirrhotics, elective operations using portal flow preserving techniques such as a selective distal splenorenal shunt (Warren) and a partial portocaval small diameter interposition shunt (Sarfeh) should be preferred. Rarely, end-to-side portocaval shunt may serve as a salvage procedure if emergency endoscopic treatment or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion fails to stop bleeding. Until definitive results from randomized trials are available patients with good prognosis (Child-Pugh A and B) should be regarded as candidates for surgical shunts. For patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension, in particular with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, portosystemic shunt surgery represents the only effective therapy which leads to freedom of recurrent bleeding and repeated endoscopies for many years, and improves hypersplenism without deteriorating liver function or encephalopathy. Gastroesophageal devascularization and other direct variceal ablative procedures should be restricted to treat endoscopic therapy failures without shuntable portal tributaries.     

The changing spectrum of treatment for variceal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of endoscopic therapy, liver transplantation, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on patient selection and outcome of surgical treatment for this complication of portal hypertension, as reflected in a single surgeon's 18-year experience with operations for variceal hemorrhage. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Definitive treatment of patients who bleed from portal hypertension has been progressively altered during the past 2 decades during which endoscopic therapy, liver transplantation, and TIPS have successively become available as alternative treatment options to operative portosystemic shunts and devascularization procedures. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-three consecutive patients who were surgically treated for portal hypertensive bleeding between 1978 and 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. Four Eras separated by the dates when endoscopic therapy (January 1981), liver transplantation (July 1985), and TIPS (January 1993) became available in our institution were analyzed. Throughout all four Eras, a selective operative approach, using the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS), nonselective shunts, and esophagogastric devascularization, was taken. The most common indications for nonselective shunts and esophagogastric devascularization were medically intractable ascites and splanchnic venous thrombosis, respectively. Most other patients received a DSRS. RESULTS: The risk status (Child's class) of patients undergoing surgery progressively improved (p = 0.001) throughout the 4 Eras, whereas the need for emergency surgery declined (p = 0.002). The percentage of nonselective shunts performed decreased because better options to manage acute bleeding episodes (sclerotherapy, TIPS) and advanced liver disease complicated by ascites (liver transplantation, TIPS) became available (p = 0.009). In all Eras, the operative mortality rate was directly related to Child's class (A, 2.7%; B, 7.5%; and C, 26.1 %) (p = 0.001). As more good-risk patients underwent operations for variceal bleeding, the incidence of postoperative encephalopathy decreased (p = 0.015), and long-term survival improved (p = 0.012), especially since liver transplantation became available to salvage patients who developed hepatic failure after a prior surgical procedure. There were no differences between Eras with respect to rebleeding or shunt occlusion. Distal splenorenal shunts (p = 0.004) and nonselective shunts (p = 0.001) were more protective against rebleeding than was esophagogastric devascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The sequential introduction of endoscopic therapy, liver transplantation, and TIPS has resulted in better selection and improved results with respect to quality and length of survival for patients treated surgically for variceal bleeding. Despite these innovations, portosystemic shunts and esophagogastric devascularization remain important and effective options for selected patients with bleeding secondary to portal hypertension.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts: An update

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) have been used in the treatment of complications of portal hypertension. TIPS is used for the control of acute variceal bleeding and for the prevention of vericeal rebleeding when pharmacologic therapy and endoscopic therapy have failed. Patients with refractory ascites with adequate hepatic reserve and renal function who fail to respond to large volume paracentesis may be reasonable candidates for TIPS. Promising indications for TIPS are Budd-Chiari syndrome uncontrolled by medical therapy, severe portal hypertensive gastropathy, refractory hepatic hydrothorax, and hepatorenal syndrome. TIPS cannot be recommended for preoperative portal decompression solely to facilitate liver transplantation. Special care should be taken to insure proper placement of the stent to avoid increasing the technical difficulty of the transplantation procedure. The major limiting factors for TIPS success are shunt dysfunction and hepatic encephalopathy. Because shunt stenosis is the most important cause of recurrent complications of portal hypertension, a surveillance program to monitor shunt patency is mandatory. The MELD score may be useful in predicting post-TIPS survival, and also in counseling patients and their families. (Liver Transpl 2003;9:207-217.)     

Pre-Liver Transplant: Tips Versus Distal Splenorenal Shunt

Recurrent variceal bleeding in liver transplant candidates with end-stage liver disease can complicate or even prohibit a subsequent transplant procedure (OLT). Endoscopic sclero-therapy and medical therapy are considered as first-line management with surgical shunts reserved for refractory situations. Surgical shunts can be associated with a high mortality in this population and may complicate subsequent OLT. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been recommended in these patients as a bridge to OLT. This is a new modality that has not been compared with previously established therapies such as the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS). In this study we report our experience with 35 liver transplant recipients who had a previous TIPS (18 patients) or DSRS (17 patients) for variceal bleeding. The TIPS group had a significantly larger proportion of critically ill and Child-Pugh C patients. Mean operating time was more prolonged in the DSRS group (P=0.014) but transfusion requirements were similar. Intraoperative portal vein blood flow measurements averaged 2132±725 ml/min in the TIPS group compared with 1120±351ml/min in the DSRS group (P<0.001). Arterial flows were similar. Mean ICU and hospital stays were similar. There were 3 hospital mortalities in the DSRS group and none in the TIPS group (P=0.1). We conclude that TIPS is a valuable tool in the management of recurrent variceal bleeding prior to liver transplantation. Intra0Perative hemodynamic measurements suggest a theoretical advantage with TIPS. In a group of patients with advanced liver disease we report an outcome that is similar to patients treated with DSRS prior to liver transplantation. The role of TIPS in the treatment of nontransplant candidates remains to be clarified.     

Surgical treatment of portal hypertension

A switch to decompressive shunt procedures is mandatory if endoscopic therapy fails to control recurrent variceal hemorrhage. Surgical shunt procedures continue to be safe, highly effective and durable procedures to control variceal bleeding in patients with low operative risk and good liver function (Child A). In cirrhotics, elective operations using portal flow preserving techniques such as a selective distal splenorenal shunt (Warren) or a partial portocaval small diameter interposition shunt (Sarfeh) should be preferred. Rarely, end-to-side portocaval shunt may serve as a salvage procedure if emergent endoscopic treatment or TIPS insertion fail to stop bleeding. Until definitive results from randomized trials are available patients with good prognosis (Child-Pugh A and B) can be regarded as candidates for surgical shunts. For patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension, in particular with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, portosystemic shunt surgery represents the only effective therapy which leads to freedom of recurrent bleeding and repeated endoscopies for many years, and improves hypersplenism without deteriorating liver function or encephalopathy. Gastroesophageal devascularization and other direct variceal ablative procedures should be restricted to treat endoscopic therapy failures without shuntable portal tributaries.     

门腔静脉人工血管搭桥分流术治疗门静脉高压症

目的观察用门腔静脉间人工血管搭桥分流术治疗门静脉高压症患者的临床疗效,并与传统的门体分流术比较。方法采用带外支撑环的８ｍｍ口径聚四氟乙烯（ＧｏｒｅＴｅｘ）薄壁人工血管行门腔静脉间搭桥分流术,所用人工血管长度为２～３ｃｍ,共治疗２０例患者。结果搭桥分流术后门静脉压力下降幅度与同期１７例脾肾静脉分流术及１１例门腔静脉侧侧分流术相比差异无显著意义（０８３±０３１ｋＰａ,０８１±０５０ｋＰａ及１０２±０４５ｋＰａ,Ｐ＞００５）。三组患者全部获得随访,平均随访时间为１５～２８个月,手术死亡率及再出血率没有差别,但搭桥分流组术后脑病发生率显著低于门腔侧侧分流组（５０％及３６４％,Ｐ＜００５）。２０例患者术后近期均经下腔静脉行门静脉造影,人工血管通畅率为９５％,出院后１９例患者均经一次以上Ｂ超检查,随访已超过１５个月,人工血管均通畅。结论门腔静脉间小口径人工血管搭桥分流术对患者创伤小,操作简便,术后脑病发生率低,疗效比较确切     

Complications following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: a retrospective analysis

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been the therapeutic option for severe decompensation of chronic liver disease and as a bridge to liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to analyze the complications of this procedure. The records of 47 patients (39 men) of mean age 48 years underwent TIPS procedures from 1998 to 2003 were reviewed. Forty-one patients received 45 successful TIPS; it failed in six patients. Improvement was observed in 20 of 28 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (71%); 9 of 11 with ascites (82%); and 5 of 8 with impaired renal function (62%). The Child-Pugh scores improved in 6 of the 47 patients (13%). Transplantation was performed in 11 patients (23%). The complications were: encephalopathy (49%); infection (19%); renal failure (17%); TIPS migration to the portal vein (4%) and to the right atrium (4%). Mortality was 32% (15/47) over 3 months. Eight patients developed active bleeding during TIPS installation requiring mechanical ventilation and intensive care, and died within the first week. Other causes of death were sepsis (n = 2), liver failure (n = 1), accidental puncture of the Glisson's capsule leading to intra-abdominal bleeding (n = 1) and refractory upper gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 3). The latter four patients had TIPS placement failure. In conclusion, TIPS produced clinical improvement among 51% of patients with complications in 49%. The main complications were encephalopathy (49%), infection (19%), and renal failure (17%). The 3-month mortality rate after TIPS placement was 32%.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: an analysis of outcomes

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) are utilized for the management of complications of portal hypertension, particularly diuretic‐resistant ascites and recurrent variceal bleeding. It has also been applied in Budd–Chiari syndrome and hepatorenal syndrome. We report the results in a small series, over 9 years, from a single centre, and compare these to those published in the literature. Methods: A retrospective case note review of 20 consecutive TIPS procedures performed at Flinders Medical Centre from January 1997 to December 2005 was completed. All indications were included in the analysis. Underlying liver disease, peri‐procedure complications, relief of symptoms and patient survival were recorded. Data on type of TIPS, shunt patency and method of follow‐up were recorded. Results: Thirty‐six TIPS were performed in 20 subjects. All initial TIPS attempts were successful. Indications were: refractory ascites (18), acute variceal bleeding (12) and hepatorenal syndrome (2). There were no peri‐procedure deaths, however. Ninety‐day mortality was 20%. Outcomes in model of end‐stage liver disease score and biochemical characteristics post‐TIPS were comparable to those reported. Overall, TIPS dysfunction rate was 35% at 1 year. TIPS follow‐up and patency surveillance was an ad hoc combination of Doppler ultrasound and venography. Conclusion: TIPS procedure outcomes in our centre are similar to those reported in the literature from large centres. TIPS patency rates may be improved with regular monitoring and early intervention when stenosis occurs.     

Neoadjuvant transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: a solution for extrahepatic abdominal operation in cirrhotic patients with severe portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Major abdominal surgery, although technically feasible per se, can be contraindicated in some cirrhotic patients because of severe portal hypertension. The present study reports our experience of seven such patients who were prepared for major abdominal surgery by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). STUDY DESIGN: There were seven cirrhotic patients (six men and one woman aged 47 to 69 years) with portal hypertension. Portal hypertension was considered severe because of the presence of at least one of the following: history of variceal bleeding (five of seven patients), varices at risk of bleeding (red signs or cardial location of varices; four of seven patients), or intractable ascites (three of seven patients). The planned operations included colon, gastroesophageal, kidney, and aortic procedures in three, two, one, and one patient, respectively. Because portal hypertension was the leading cause of surgical contraindication, the following "two-step strategy" was applied to the seven patients: first, TIPS to control portal hypertension, followed, after a delay of at least 1 month, by abdominal surgery. RESULTS: The TIPS procedure was successfully performed in all patients without complications. The hepatic venous pressure gradient decreased from 18+/-5 to 9+/-5 mm Hg (p<0.01). All patients were operated on with a delay ranging from 1 month to 5 months after TIPS (2.9+/-1.3 months; median 3 months). The planned operation was performed in six of the seven patients. One patient with cancer of the cardia did not have resection because of extensive abdominal spreading of the tumor. Intraoperative transfusion was necessary in only two patients. Operative mortality occurred in one patient, 36 days after resection of a left colon cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The minimally invasive nature of TIPS allows us to propose the following two-step management of cirrhotic patients with severe portal hypertension needing abdominal surgery: decompression of the portal system by TIPS followed by elective surgery.     

Long-term results of side-to-side and H-graft mesocaval shunt

From January, 1966 to January, 1988, mesocaval shunt was performed on 47 patients with the variceal hemorrhage secondary to portal hypertension. Of these, 30 patients underwent side-to-side mesocaval shunt, the remaining 17 had H-graft mesocaval shunt. Postoperative follow-up averaged 6 years and 11 months for the patients surviving operation. The rebleeding rate was 21.1%, and the shunt related encephalopathy rate 25.5%. The 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-year survival rates of the whole series were 65.8%, 51.8%, 37.5% and 20.0% respectively. We conclude that mesocaval shunt is the procedure of choice for treatment of variceal bleeding, especially for the control of postoperatively recurrent variceal bleeding.     

Predictors of mortality and stenosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPSs) are used to treat variceal hemorrhage and refractory ascites. We sought to determine factors associated with stenosis and mortality after TIPS placement in patients with end-stage liver disease. This is a retrospective review of 90 TIPSs placed over a 3-year period. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters were analyzed in univariate analyses to determine their association with stenosis and death. Multivariate analyses were conducted using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard modeling. Thirty-five TIPSs were placed for recurrent variceal bleeding; 14 TIPSs, for uncontrolled variceal bleeding; 34 TIPSs, for refractory ascites; and 7 TIPSs, for other causes. The overall mortality rate was 33%, and 18 patients died within 30 days of TIPS placement. The 1-year stenosis rate was 49%. Fourteen patients underwent liver transplantation a mean of 116 [plusmn] 143 days after TIPS placement. Prothrombin time greater than 17 seconds, serum creatinine level greater than 1.7 mg/dL, total bilirubin level greater than 3 mg/dL, and uncontrolled variceal bleeding as an indication for TIPS placement were significant predictors of 30-day mortality. Serum creatinine level was a predictor of 30-day mortality in individuals with recurrent variceal hemorrhage or ascites. Multivariate analyses showed that creatinine level greater than 1.7 mg/dL and uncontrolled variceal bleeding as an indication for TIPS placement were independently associated with 30-day mortality. Individuals with both coagulopathy and renal insufficiency had a 30-day mortality rate of 78%. Urgent placement of TIPS was associated with an increased risk for stenosis (hazard ratio = 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 10.1; P [lt ] .001), but no other clinical variables were associated with stenosis. Uncontrolled variceal bleeding as an indication for TIPS placement, coagulopathy, hyperbilirubinemia, and renal insufficiency were associated with increased mortality in patients with TIPSs. Individuals with both coagulopathy and renal insufficiency had high mortality. Urgent TIPS placement for uncontrolled variceal bleeding was associated with stenosis. (Liver Transpl 2002;8:271-277.)     

Cost-effective analysis of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt versus surgical portacaval shunt for variceal bleeding in early cirrhosis

Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage carries significant morbidity and mortality in patients with portal hypertension and cirrhosis. The optimal prevention strategy for rebleeding in these patients remains controversial with respect to the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) versus a portocaval surgical shunt (PC). We sought to determine the long-term cost-effectiveness of these two treatments. A Markov state transition decision analysis was created and Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis performed to follow patients with early cirrhosis who have an upper gastrointestinal bleed despite medical therapy into either TIPS or PC. Patients were followed throughout the transition states until either death or survival. Probabilities of gastrointestinal rebleed, hepatic encephalopathy, surgical and TIPS-related complications as well as death were obtained from an extensive literature review. Costs were derived from average Medicare reimbursements. The main outcome was dollars per life-year saved. For patients with mild to moderate cirrhosis with upper gastrointestinal variceal bleed, the average cost per life year saved was $17,771 (SD = 471) and $21,438 (SD = 308) for TIPS and PC, respectively. The average life expectancy was 5.0 years and 7.0 years for TIPS and PC, respectively. This yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness rate for portocaval shunt of $3,299 per life year saved. Compared with TIPS, surgical PC shunt resulted in improved survival with minimal increase in cost. Therefore, given the low incremental cost of PC, it should be adopted as a cost-effective strategy in managing this patient population.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt: indications and long-term outcome

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt has replaced surgical shunt procedures as the standard therapy for complications of portal hypertension such as refractory ascites and recurrent variceal bleeding. However, reinterventions due to TIPS stenosis are necessary in 25-50 %. Major complications are the manifestation or worsening of hepatic encephalopathy. Recent studies using PTFE covered stents have shown lower stenosis rates and a trend towards prolonged survival.     

Selective distal splenorenal shunt versus side-to-side portacaval shunt. Clinical results of a prospective, controlled study

A prospective, controlled study comparing the clinical results of the selective distal splenorenal shunt procedure and the side-to-side portacaval shunt procedure was undertaken in 1980. Ninety-three cirrhotic patients with previous episodes of bleeding from esophageal varices underwent a distal splenorenal shunt procedure (47 patients). The operative mortality rate was 2 percent in both groups. The intraoperative decrease of portal hypertension after the portacaval shunt procedure was higher than after the distal splenorenal shunt procedure (p less than 0.05), and in those with patent shunts, there was a 0 percent incidence of early variceal rebleeding after the portacaval shunt procedure compared with a 9 percent incidence after the distal splenorenal shunt procedure (p less than 0.05). Both shunts, however, had similarly satisfactory results in preventing long-term variceal rebleeding (portacaval shunt 2 percent and distal splenorenal shunt 0 percent). Postoperative ascites was more common after the distal splenorenal shunt procedure (58 percent versus 24 percent; p less than 0.01). Analysis of actuarial survival curves showed no difference between the two procedures. The incidences of long-term episodes of chronic encephalopathy were not statistically different after both procedures. The only three instances of severe encephalopathy occurred in patients with the portacaval shunt (p less than 0.05). The distal splenorenal shunt also seemed to have a less negative effect on postoperative liver function than the portacaval shunt. These data suggest that the selective shunt should be viewed as a first choice strategy in the treatment of portal hypertension.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) versus laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) plus preoperative endoscopic varices ligation (EVL) in the treatment of recurrent variceal bleeding

Background

The aim of the present study was to compare elective transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) plus preoperative endoscopic varices ligation (EVL) in their efficacy in preventing recurrent bleeding and improving the long-term liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Methods

Between January 2009 and March 2012, we enrolled 83 patients (55 with TIPS, defined as the TIPS group, and 28 with LS plus preoperative EVL, defined as the LS group) with portal hypertension and a history of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding resulting from liver cirrhosis. The clinical characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and follow-up were recorded.

Results

No significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups with respect to the patients’ characteristics and preoperative variables. Within 30 days after surgery, one patient in the TIPS group died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, whereas no patient in the LS group died. Complications occurred in 14 patients in the TIPS group, which included rebleeding, encephalopathy, ascites, bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta, and pulmonary infection, compared with 5 patients in the LS group, which included pulmonary effusion, pancreatic leakage, and portal vein thrombosis. During a mean follow-up of 13.6 months in the TIPS group and 12.3 months in the LS group, the actuarial survival was 85.5 % in the TIPS group versus 100 % in the LS group. The long-term complications included rebleeding and encephalopathy in the TIPS group.

Conclusions

LS plus EVL was superior to TIPS in the prevention of gastroesophageal variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients. This treatment was associated with a low rate of portosystemic encephalopathy and improvements in the long-term liver function.