Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) with use of R?sch-Uchida transjugular liver access set--evaluation by CT and its clinical application]

Appropriateness of the R?sch-Uchida transjugular liver access set designed for TIPSS procedure was confirmed, especially about the catheter angle and effective length of the 20 G puncture needle, by CT analysis on three dimensional vascular anatomy of the liver. Clinically, TIPSS using the set was successfully made for two patients, connecting superior right hepatic vein with right portal vein in one patient and middle hepatic vein with left portal vein in another patient with hypoplastic right portal vein. Prior to TIPSS procedure, verification of vascular anatomy on CT images is the key to success of TIPSS in safe.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS)]

Our first clinical experience of TIPSS made for a 52-year-old patient with recurrent life threatening variceal bleeding is described. Although shunt-making between the right hepatic vein and the right portal vein and placement of Gianturco-R?sch Z stents were successfully made without significant complication related to the procedure, sufficient decompression of the portal vein pressure was not obtained because of compression on these stents at the tortuous portion of the shunting tract. Some technical problems of the procedure are also discussed, especially about choice of metallic stents and puncture technique.     

TIPSS技术与Richter穿刺针：——150例临床应用的方法学讨论

根据150例 TIPSS 临床资料,作者介绍了不同时期的各种操作方法,临床应用情况。分析结果显示:用新设计的 Richter 穿刺针,联合使用 B 超及透视导向穿刺肝内门静脉是实用、合理的方法,使操作更简化、安全,平均操作时间从早期的7小时降到约2小时,也降低了因操作引起的并发症。     

Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance for Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Procedure in a Swine Model

A new method is described for guiding hepato-portal venous puncture using a longitudinal side-view intravascular ultrasound (L-IVUS) transducer to assist in the performance of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in three Australian swine. Simultaneous L-IVUS with an AcuNav® 5–10 MHz 10 Fr transducer (Acuson Corporation, Mountain View, CA, USA) and fluoroscopy guidance was used to image and monitor the hepatic to portal venous puncture, dilatation of the tract, and deployment of the TIPS stent. Flow through the shunt could be demonstrated with both L-IVUS and angiography. TIPS was successful in all swine. The time for portal vein puncture once the target portal vein was identified was reduced at each attempt. The number of portal vein puncture attempts was 2, 1, and 1. No post-procedural complication was evident. L-IVUS-guided TIPS is practical and has the potential to improve safety by permitting simultaneous ultrasound and fluoroscopic imaging of the needle and target vascular structures. This technique allows for a more streamlined approach to TIPS, decreasing the fluoroscopic time (hence, decreasing the radiation exposure to the staff and patient) and anesthetic time. In addition, there are improved safety benefits obviating the need for wedged portography, facilitating avoidance of bile duct and hepatic arterial puncture, and minimizing hepatic injury by decreasing liver capsular puncture and the attendant risks.     

Transhepatic puncture of portal and hepatic veins for TIPS using a single-needle pass under sonographic guidance

OBJECTIVE: Creating transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) requires accessing a portal vein branch from a metal cannula wedged in a hepatic vein. This initial step in shunt creation often requires multiple blind intrahepatic punctures and occasionally fails. We describe a method using sonographic guidance to serially puncture the portal vein and hepatic vein with a single transhepatic needle pass, after which the TIPS procedure is completed in the standard transjugular fashion. CONCLUSION: Sonographically guided transhepatic dual puncture of the portal and hepatic veins facilitates portosystemic shunt creation in a single needle pass and allows more controlled selection of the portal vein entry and hepatic vein landing sites in selected patients.     

原发性肝癌伴门脉高压的TIPSS治疗

本文对伴有门脉高压症的５名原发性肝癌（ＰＨＣ）患者的ＴＩＰＳＳ治疗进行报道。在ＴＩＰＳＳ术中，成功地建立了肝内门腔分流道，未发生肝内病变的误穿；术后患者的门脉压力得到下降，食管胃底静脉曲张得以减轻和消失。４名曾于ＴＩＰＳＳ术前有上消化道出血者术后有３例未再出血。作者认为：ＰＨＣ不是ＴＩＰＳＳ治疗门脉高压症的禁忌症；ＰＨＣ患者经ＴＩＰＳＳ治疗后，由于避免了门脉高压合并症的出现，因此生活质量得以提高。     

A new coaxial needle system,hepatic artery targeting wire,and biplane fluoroscopy to increase safety and efficacy of TIPS

To improve safety and efficacy of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure, we introduced a new, thin-needle (21-gauge long PTC needle) puncture technique using biplane fluoroscopy and targeting of a guidewire tip in the right hepatic artery. After puncture of the right portal vein, a 0.016-inch guidewire was inserted into the portal vein, followed by a 4 Fr dilator. The 4 Fr dilator allowed introduction of a 0.035-inch working guidewire. We successfully performed TIPS in seven patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis using this technique and encountered no technical difficulties or complications.     

Localization of the portal vein for transjugular catheterization: percutaneous placement of a metallic marker with real-time US guidance.

Transjugular catheterization of the portal vein can be used to form a portosystemic shunt. Conventionally, the passage of a needle from the hepatic vein into the portal vein is performed with fluoroscopic monitoring only. Several methods to target the portal vein have been previously reported, including transhepatic venous catheterization, indirect portography (arterial catheterization), or skin marking based on ultrasound (US) mapping of portal landmarks. The authors used realtime US guidance to percutaneously place a small marking wire in the parenchyma next to the portal bifurcation. A 0.018-inch-diameter, 5-mm-long platinum wire is delivered through a 22-gauge echo-tipped needle placed adjacent to the right portal vein. This marking wire enabled rapid entry into the portal vein, helped avoid extrahepatic puncture, and was useful during stent deployment and positioning.     

Morphologic and clinical results of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS)

The concept of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-assisted shunt (TIPSS) using the Palmaz iliac stent has been successfully accomplished in 18 of 24 patients representing a technical success rate of 75%. Fourteen were male, 4 female with a mean age of 60 years (range 34–84 years). According to classification of Child’s and Turcotte, 6 were in stage A, 6 in stage B, and 6 in stage C. Five patients were treated on an emergency basis because of massive active bleeding. In 10 patients the portosystemic tract was created between the middle hepatic vein and the right main stem of the portal vein in 8, and the left main stem in 2 patients. In 8 patients, the shunt was established between the right hepatic vein and the right main branch of the portal vein. The portosystemic gradient in 18 patients was 29.9±6 mm Hg and dropped to an average of 16.9±4 mm Hg after shunt establishment. Within the early postprocedural period of 30 days, 1 patient died of direct complications of the procedure. Because of catheter dislocation, embolization of the percutaneous transhepatic approach to the portal vein after successful shunt “creation” could not be done and was followed by intraabdominal exsanguination. One patient died of an ARDS after TIPSS. A third developed pulmonary infection. In 13 patients, because of hematomas at the puncture site of the transhepatic approach, only the transjugular approach was elected for establishing TIPSS. The mean portosystemic gradient in 18 patients prior to TIPSS was 29±6 mm Hg (range 19–41 mm Hg), dropped to an average of 16.9±4 mm Hg (range 7–21 mm Hg), and showed no significant change 6 months after TIPSS with a pressure of 16±1.8 mm Hg. The 1-year survival rate was 75% (8/12); the 2-year rate was 50% (3/6).     

Electromagnetic tracking-guided percutaneous intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation in a swine model

Electromagnetic tracking potentially may be used to guide percutaneous needle-based interventional procedures. This brief report describes our initial experience with an electromagnetic guidance system featuring real-time tracking of respiratory-related target motion using an internal fiducial. An algorithm based on a "freehand" needle puncture technique was employed to puncture the right portal vein and a right hepatic vein for percutaneous intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a swine model. Preoperative computed tomographic images registered with the electromagnetically tracked needle position were displayed for guidance. Successful puncture was confirmed angiographically. Simultaneous percutaneous transhepatic puncture of the targeted veins was accomplished on the initial attempt.     

TIPSS术前影像学检查方法选择及意义──兼论最佳穿刺途径的选择

作者分析了９０例肝脏ＭＲＩ、ＣＴ、超声及血管造影这四种影像检查资料，其中５０例于影像检查后行ＴＩＰＳＳ，旨在评价如何选择行ＴＩＰＳＳ前的影像检查。结果表明：在显示肝静脉、门静脉方面，ＭＲＩ具有优越性；超声在显示门静脉血流方面具有优越性。我们认为，ＭＲＩ和超声为常规ＴＩＰＳＳ前的首选影像检查方法，急诊ＴＩＰＳＳ前则以血管造影为主。     

1999 Gary J. Becker Young Investigator Award. MR-guided transjugular portosystemic shunt placement in a swine model.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of portal venous puncture with use of magnetic resonance (MR) guidance, and to place a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in a swine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study of 12 swine was performed to evaluate the ability of interventional MR imaging to guide portal vein puncture and TIPS placement. Six swine had catheters placed in the right hepatic vein under C-arm fluoroscopy. A nitinol guide wire was left in the vein and the animals were then moved into an open configuration MR imaging unit. A TIPS needle set was used to puncture the portal vein using MR fluoroscopy. The animals were transferred to the C-arm, and venography confirmed portal vein puncture. A follow-up study was performed in six additional swine to place a TIPS using only MR imaging guidance. MR tracking was used to advance a catheter from the right atrium into the inferior vena cava. Puncture of the portal vein was performed and a nitinol stent was placed, bridging the hepatic parenchyma. MR venogram confirmed placement. RESULTS: Successful portal vein puncture was achieved in all animals. The number of punctures required decreased from 12 in the first animal to a single puncture in the last eight swine. A stent was successfully placed across the hepatic tract in all six swine. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time MR imaging proved to be a feasible method to guide portal vein puncture and TIPS placement in pigs.     

经颈静脉肝内门-体静脉分流术应用疗效观察

本文报告经颈静脉肝内门-体静脉分流术(TIPSS)14例,成功12例。术后食道静脉曲张明显减轻乃至消失、门脉主干血流速度显著增加、门脉压力平均下降1.48kPa、血小板有所升高、白细胞变化不大、脾脏体积缩小30-60％。本组临床应用结果表明:TIPSS创伤性小,降低门脉压可靠,是治疗门脉高压症的有效方法;此技术成功的关键是术前了解肝静脉与门静脉的空间关系。     

TIPSS-Kontrolle mit Farbduplexsonographie unter Anwendung eines Ultraschallverstärkungsmittels Erste Ergebnisse

A study was performed to determine the visualization of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) and the detection of stenosis by the use of a capillary transversing signal enhancer. In 37 patients 37 colour-coded duplex sonographies were performed before and after intravenous injection of the ultrasound signal enhancer Levovist (Schering, Berlin). The examinations were evaluated using a four-category score. Special attention was paid to the detection of stenoses in the TIPSS. Transjugular portal venograms of the same day were used as gold standard. The use of Levovist provided better colour and flow signals for the portal vein end of the shunt in only 9 of 37 sonograms and for the hepatic vein end of the shunt in 37 of 39 sonograms. Eleven of 13 stenoses requiring reintervention in portal venography could be correctly identified with signal enhancer. Eleven of these 13 stenoses were located in the hepatic vein end of the shunt. Ultrasound signal enhancer can significantly improve the sonomorphological visualization especially of the hepatic vein end of TIPSS in colour-coded duplex sonography. Stenoses which usually occur in the hepatic vein end of the shunt may be better detected.     

Feasibility of Augmented Reality–Guided Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

PurposeTo investigate an augmented reality (AR)–guided endovascular puncture to facilitate successful transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Materials and MethodsAn AR navigation system for TIPS was designed. Three-dimensional (3D) liver models including portal and hepatic vein anatomy were extracted from preoperative CT images. The 3D models, intraoperative subjects, and electromagnetic tracking information of the puncture needles were integrated through the system calibration. In the AR head-mounted display, the 3D models were overlaid on the subjects, which was a liver phantom in the first phase and live beagle dogs in the second phase. One life-size liver phantom and 9 beagle dogs were used in the experiments. Imaging after puncture was performed to validate whether the needle tip accessed the target hepatic vein successfully.ResultsEndovascular punctures of the portal vein of the liver phantom were repeated 30 times under the guidance of the AR system, and the puncture needle successfully accessed the target vein during each attempt. In the experiments of live canine subjects, the punctures were successful in 2 attempts in 7 beagle dogs and in 1 attempt in the remaining 2 dogs. The puncture time of needle from hepatic vein to portal vein was 5–10 s in the phantom experiments and 10–30 s in the canine experiments.ConclusionsThe feasibility of AR-based navigation facilitating accurate and successful portal vein access in preclinical models of TIPS was validated.     

Ultrasound-guided transhepatic puncture of the hepatic veins for TIPS placement

Purpose

This retrospective analysis was carried out to assess the feasibility and results of transjugular intrahepatic portal systemic shunt (TIPS) performed with ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous puncture of the hepatic veins.

Material and methods

Over a period of 3 years, 153 patients were treated with TIPS at our centre. In eight cases, a percutaneous puncture of the middle (n=7) or right (n=1) hepatic vein was required because the hepatic vein ostium was not accessible. Indications for TIPS were bleeding (n=1), Budd-Chiari syndrome (n=1), ascites (n=2), reduced portal flow (n=1) and incomplete portal thrombosis (n=3). A 0.018-in. guidewire was anterogradely introduced into the hepatic vein to the inferior vena cava (IVC) through a 21-gauge needle. In the meantime, a 25-mm snare-loop catheter was introduced through the jugular access to retrieve the guidewire, achieving through-andthrough access. Then, a Rosch-Uchida set was used to place the TIPS with the traditional technique.

Results

Technical success was achieved in all patients. There was one case of stent thrombosis. One patient died of pulmonary oedema. Three patients were eligible for liver transplantation, whereas the others were excluded due to shunt thrombosis (n=1) and previous nonhepatic neoplasms (n=3).

Conclusions

The percutaneous approach to hepatic veins is rapid and safe and may be useful for avoiding traumatic liver injuries.     

Adjunctive 3D US for achieving portal vein access during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of information provided by three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) and to determine whether 3D US decreased the number of passes required to obtain portal vein (PV) access during creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intermittent 3D US volume acquisitions were obtained during creation of TIPS in 20 patients. Useful information provided by 3D US was tabulated. The number of passes required to achieve PV access was recorded and results were compared retrospectively to 25 patients who underwent TIPS without 3D US. RESULTS: 3D US documented that the operator's opinion of which hepatic vein had been selected was incorrect in nine patients (45%), detected unfavorable PV anatomy that required modification of equipment or technique in seven patients (35%), permitted estimation of the trajectory required to access the targeted PV in all patients (100%), assisted in selecting the optimal point along the hepatic vein for origination of the needle pass in 11 patients (55%), allowed avoidance of a large hepatocellular carcinoma in one patient (5%), and confirmed that access into the main PV was intrahepatic in four patients (20%). The mean number of needle passes decreased from 10.4 in the historic control group to 4.6 in the 3D US group (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: 3D US provided imaging information that detected technical errors and altered anatomy, and provided positional and directional information to significantly improve needle pass efficiency.     

经颈静脉肝内门体静脉内支架分流术术式改良的实验研究

目的：探讨建立改良式猪经颈静脉肝内门体静脉内支架分流术（TIPSS）模型的可行性及其意义。方法：11只家猪分成2组，7只采用改良术式（经肝段下腔静脉穿刺门脉）建立TIPSS模型，另4只行常规TIPSS作对照。共置入4枚进口覆膜镍钛合金支架，8枚国产覆聚氨酯膜支架。其中，改良组7只猪置入7枚支架（4枚进口支架，3枚国产支架）；对照组4只猪置入5枚国产覆膜支架（1只猪置入时支架发生移位，故加用1枚支架）。术后4周（5只），8周（2只）和12周（4只）进行门脉造影观察分流道通畅情况。动物处死后，行分流道大体和组织病理学检查。结果：术后4周，改良组2只分流道通畅（进口支架、国产支架各1枚），分流道表面均形成完整的假性内膜组织；另5只分流道在4至12周均闭塞，分流道内形成血栓，其中2只内支架伸入下腔静脉内不全，陷入肝实质内。常规组4只分流道在4、8和12周观察期内均闭塞。两组间分流道肝（下腔）静脉端，肝实质段和门静脉端各段的增生组织厚度对比差异均无显著性意义（t值分别为0．14、0．16和0．20，P值均＞0．05）。结论：改良式猪TIPSS模型的建立是安全和可行的。改良式TIPSS中应采用覆膜支架，并应有足够长度伸入至两端静脉内，有助于防止增生组织向分流道内长入。     

家兔门静脉系统不同部位血氨浓度比较的前瞻性研究

目的 检测和分析家兔门静脉及其分支的血氨浓度差异从而指导肝内让腔静脉分流术中对门静脉分支的选择,降低分流引起的肝性脑病的发病率。材料与方法,在家兔门静脉系统各分支分别取血测定血氨浓度并进行比较。结果 所测得血氨浓度,肠系膜上静脉高于门静脉左,右主支,高于脾静脉与腔静脉;门静脉右支高于左支。结论 家兔门静脉系统各分支的知氨浓度存在差异,提示肝内门腔静脉分流术中门静脉左右的选择可能会影响术后肝性脑病的     

经皮经肝肝内门体分流术的多层CT影像研究

目的 探讨严重肝硬化患者肝实质、门静脉与肝静脉或肝后段下腔静脉在影像上的特征,评估经皮经肝肝内门 体分流术(PTIPS)的可行性及安全性,为该技术的临床应用提供解剖依据。方法 50例经临床及影像证实的严重肝硬化患者,在多层螺旋CT(MDCT)上模拟PTIPS,选右侧腋中线第8或第9肋间为经皮穿刺点A点,门静脉右支主十远端为门静脉穿刺点B点,肝右静脉汇入下腔静脉处为肝静脉或下腔静脉穿刺点C点,门静脉主干起始处为D点。A、B、C 三点连线为经皮经肝穿刺道,C、B、D 三点连线即门体分流道。所有患者肝脏CT增强扫描后行MPR后处理,测量数据用x±s表示,并计算总体均数的95％可信区间。同时分析门静脉右支与肝后段下腔静脉、肝动脉及胆管的解剖关系。结果 模拟穿刺针体内部分的长度（A-B-C长度）为(145.7±14.8) mm;穿刺针的弯度（A-B径线与B-C径线夹角）为(145.0±9.9)°;肝实质段分流道的长度（B-C长度）为(42.7±7.2) mm;当门静脉主干闭塞时,分流道长度（C-B-D长度）为(117.7 ±11.6) mm;分流道的角度（B-C径线与B-D径线夹角）为(108.5±5.9)°。50例患者中肝后段下腔静脉位于门静脉右支背侧者24例,位于同一平面者26例;肝右动脉及右肝管均位于门静脉右支腹侧。经门静脉右支穿刺肝右静脉或肝后段下腔静脉的路径中无大的动脉、胆管等重要结构。结论 从解剖学角度分析,PTIPS具有可行性及安全性,通过量化穿刺针的长度、角度及分流道长度、角度,可为该技术的临床应用提供解剖依据。