Concomitant hepatic encephalopathy and refractory ascites: successful treatment with staged embolization of two large portosystemic shunts and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement

A patient with cirrhosis, refractory ascites, and two large competitive portosystemic shunts presented with uncontrollable acute exacerbation of chronic hepatic encephalopathy (HE). A staged procedure was performed by first performing embolization of a large mesogonadal shunt to treat the HE. Three months later, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was created to address the ascites. A large paraumbilical vein shunt was embolized at TIPS placement to minimize the risk of recurrent HE. At 9-month follow-up, the ascites was well controlled with medical management with little or no HE.     

Reversal of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)-Induced Hepatic Encephalopathy Using a Strictured Self-Expanding Covered Stent

Hepatic encephalopathy is a known complication following percutaneous transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. We describe herein a simple and effective strategy of TIPS revision by creating an intraluminal stricture within a self-expanding covered stent, which is deployed in the portosystemic shunt to reduce the TIPS blood flow. This technique was successful in reversing a TIPS-induced hepatic encephalopathy in our patient. An erratum to this article can be found at .     

Selective embolization of the splenic vein in patients with hepatic encephalopathy and splenorenal shunt

Obliteration of portal-systemic shunts is effective for portosystemic encephalopathy but is often associated with complications such as retention of ascites and worsening of esophageal varices. Selective embolization of the splenic vein was performed on six patients with hepatic encephalopathy and splenorenal shunts. Hepatic encephalopathy was not observed in four patients after the procedure. Neither retention of ascites nor rupture of esophageal varices was observed because postoperative elevation of portal venous pressure was not as great as that seen when shunt obliteration is performed. This procedure can be an effective and safe treatment option for hepatic encephalopathy with a splenorenal shunt.     

Refractory hepatic encephalopathy due to concomitant transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and spontaneous mesocaval shunt controlled by embolization of the competitive portosystemic shunt

Spontaneous mesocaval shunt (SMCS) is an uncommon cause of refractory encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. We report a patient who presented with refractory hepatic encephalopathy (HE) post-TIPS creation for variceal bleeding in whom a SMCS was found. Percutaneous transhepatic occlusion of the SMCS reduced the portal vein flow diverted from the liver and provided sufficient liver perfusion to reverse the HE while maintaining satisfactory decompression of esophageal varices.     

经颈静脉肝内门脉左支-体静脉分流术的临床意义

目的 评价选择性门静脉左支作为TIPS分流道的临床意义，分析门静脉左、右支的血液动力学变化及重要液道物质浓度差异对术后预防肝性脑病及远期疗效的影响。方法 341例有目的的选择肝内门静脉左支作为穿刺靶点，行经颈静脉矸内静脉左支门腔分流术建立门腔分流道，避开富含营养、毒素的门静脉右支血液。肝实质通道用8mm直径球囊扩张，限制分流口径。结果 所有患者术后3个月内无一例发生肝性脑病。随访期间TIPS术后341例患者仅5例（1.47%）出现肝性脑病和19例（5.57%)一年随访造影出现支架内狭窄。结论 选择性门静脉左支作为门腔静脉分流道，可心显著降低肝性脑病发生率，对保护肝功能，提高分流道远期开通率具有重要的临床意义。     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a patient with cavernomatous portal vein occlusion

A 23-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis secondary to primary sclerosing cholangitis was referred to us for the treatment of recurrent bleeding from esophageal varices that had been refractory to endoscopic sclerotherapy. Her portal vein was occluded, associated with cavernous transformation. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was performed after a preprocedural three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography evaluation to determine feasibility. The portal vein system was recanalized and portal blood flow increased markedly after TIPS. Esophageal varices disappeared 3 weeks after TIPS. Re-bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy were absent for 3 years after the procedure. We conclude that with adequate preprocedural evaluation, TIPS can be performed safely even in patients with portal vein occlusion associated with cavernous transformation.     

A technique for controlled partial closure of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt tract in a patient with hepatic encephalopathy

A novel endovascular technique to reduce flow through a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is described in a patient with severe hepatic encephalopathy. This technique allows controlled and potentially adjustable partial closure of the TIPS without thromboembolic risk. The patient experienced a dramatic clinical improvement after the procedure.     

A novel endovascular adjustable polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent for the management of hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is frequently complicated by hepatic encephalopathy. When medical therapy fails, TIPS narrowing and resultant increase in the portosystemic pressure gradient and blood flow to the liver is performed in order to reverse the encephalopathy. We present a method for reducing the TIPS using a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered balloon expandable stent placed over a self-expanding stent. This results in a narrowed TIPS that not only rapidly increases the portosystemic gradient but also can be adjusted by dilating the balloon expandable stent. This method was successful in narrowing the patient's TIPS, acutely increasing the portosystemic gradient and reversing the hepatic encephalopathy.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in hemodialysis-dependent patients and patients with advanced renal insufficiency: safety, caution, and encephalopathy

PURPOSE: To retrospectively determine the acute safety and chronic outcomes of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation in patients with hemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease for control of bleeding and refractory ascites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four dialysis-dependent patients and one renal transplant recipient (glomerular filtration rate, 27 mL/min) underwent TIPS creation for treatment of refractory ascites (n = 3) and recurrent portal hypertensive bleeding (n = 1). A sixth patient developed unrelated renal failure 3 years after initial TIPS formation and presented with encephalopathy at that time. All had nearly normal liver function test results and no previous baseline encephalopathy. Three dialysis recipients underwent dialysis immediately after the TIPS procedure in an intensive care unit; one did not. RESULTS: There were no complications of fluid overload or pulmonary edema after TIPS creation in the patients who immediately underwent dialysis. The one patient in whom dialysis was delayed developed respiratory failure and shock liver (ie, ischemic hepatitis). Ascites resolved in all three patients, and no recurrent variceal bleeding occurred during a mean follow-up of 17 months. Severe, grade 2-4 hepatic encephalopathy developed in all patients; in one patient, its onset was delayed until the onset of renal failure 3 years after the original TIPS procedure. Shunt reduction was required in four cases and competitive variceal embolization was required in one to reduce portosystemic diversion. No less than grade 1 episodic baseline encephalopathy was present in all patients despite continued use of the maximum prescribed medical therapy thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: TIPS creation is effective in controlling ascites and bleeding in functionally anephric patients, but at the cost of marked and disproportionate hepatic encephalopathy. Prompt, acute postprocedural dialysis and fluid management is critical for safe creation of a TIPS in dialysis-dependent patients.     

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation in Budd-Chiari Syndrome: Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Direct Simultaneous Puncture of the Portal Vein and Vena Cava

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is an uncommon disorder that can be life-threatening, depending on the degree of hepatic venous outflow obstruction. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) provides decompression of the congested liver but the hepatic vein obstruction makes the procedure more difficult. We describe a modified method that involved a single percutaneous puncture of the portal vein and inferior vena cava simultaneously for TIPS creation in a patient with BCS.     

Use of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug for embolization of a large retroperitoneal shunt during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation for gastric variceal bleeding

A patient undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for gastric variceal hemorrhage was found to have a very large spontaneous splenorenal shunt requiring embolization after successful TIPS creation. The anticipated site of embolization was short and large in diameter and was therefore poorly suited for the use of conventional devices such as coils. Two Amplatzer Vascular Plugs and two platinum coils were used to occlude the shunt rapidly and completely.     

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.     

经颈静脉门腔分流术中Fluency覆膜支架应用的临床观察

目的 评价Fluency覆膜支架在经颈静脉门腔分流术(TIPS)中的临床效果.方法 搜集21例采用Fluency覆膜支架行TIPS治疗患者的临床病例资料进行回顾性分析.本组患者随访时间2.0～24.0个月,平均(10.1±4.6)个月;均为门静脉高压上消化道大出血,其中原发性肝癌门静脉主干癌栓伴大出血1例,布加综合征1例.分析患者术后支架开通情况,门静脉压力及肝功能变化情况.对手术前后门静脉压力及肝功能变化情况的比较采用配对t检验.结果21例患者共放支架25枚,均成功放置,支架直径10 mm 2枚、8 mm为23枚;覆膜支架长度6～8 cm.所有患者术后上消化道出血停止;门静脉压力由术前平均(25.4±3.5)mm Hg(1mm Hg=0.133 kPa)降为(15.4±2.8)mm Hg,手术前后差异有统计学意义(t=12.495,P<0.01).随访期间,1例原发性肝癌伴门静脉主干癌栓患者于术后4个月死亡,1例随访期间发现原发性肝癌的患者术后24个月死亡,1例门静脉高压上消化道大出血患者于术后2个月死于多器官功能衰竭,1例于术后15个月出现肝静脉端狭窄,行第2枚支架治疗效果良好,余17例随访7～17个月支架无狭窄.患者死亡前1周复查超声示支架均通畅.3例术后出现一过性肝性脑病前驱症状,经对症处理后好转.存活6个月以上的19例患者,术前Child肝功能评分(6.3±1.4)分,术后6个月评分(6.4±1.9)分,两者差异无统计学意义(t=0.645,P>0.05).结论采用Fluency覆膜支架行TIPS术,能明显提高TIPS术后开通率,但长期效果及肝性脑病的评价尚需验'证.     

Transcaval TIPS in Patients with Failed Revision of Occluded Previous TIPS

Objective

To determine the feasibility of transcaval transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with occluded previous TIPS.

Materials and Methods

Between February 1996 and December 2000 we performed five transcaval TIPS procedures in four patients with recurrent gastric cardiac variceal bleeding. All four had occluded TIPS, which was between the hepatic and portal vein. The interval between initial TIPS placement and revisional procedures with transcaval TIPS varied between three and 31 months; one patient underwent transcaval TIPS twice, with a 31-month interval. After revision of the occluded shunt failed, direct cavoportal puncture at the retrohepatic segment of the IVC was attempted.

Results

Transcaval TIPS placement was technically successful in all cases. In three, tractography revealed slight leakage of contrast materials into hepatic subcapsular or subdiaphragmatic pericaval space. There was no evidence of propagation of extravasated contrast materials through the retroperitoneal space or spillage into the peritoneal space. After the tract was dilated by a bare stent, no patient experienced trans-stent bleeding and no serious procedure-related complications occurred. After successful shunt creation, variceal bleeding ceased in all patients.

Conclusion

Transcaval TIPS placement is an effective and safe alternative treatment in patients with occluded previous TIPS and no hepatic veins suitable for new TIPS.     

Embolization with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug in TIPS Patients

Vessel embolization can be a valuable adjunct procedure in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). During the creation of a TIPS, embolization of portal vein collaterals supplying esophageal varices may lower the risk of secondary rebleeding. And after creation of a TIPS, closure of the TIPS itself may be indicated if the resulting hepatic encephalopathy severely impairs mental functioning. The Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP; AGA Medical, Golden Valley, MN) is well suited for embolization of large-diameter vessels and has been employed in a variety of vascular lesions including congenital arteriovenous shunts. Here we describe the use of the AVP in the context of TIPS to embolize portal vein collaterals (n = 8) or to occlude the TIPS (n = 2).     

经颈静脉肝内门体分流术治疗脾切除术后静脉曲张再出血

目的评价经颈静脉肝内门体分流术（TIPS）治疗脾切除术后静脉曲张再出血的疗效及随访结果。 方法回顾性分析中山大学附属第三医院2010年12月至2016年12月间，因脾切除术后静脉曲张再出血而接受了TIPS治疗的患者33例，观察手术成功率、并发症及临床随访结果。 结果33例患者TIPS手术成功31例（93.9%），失败2例。成功的患者其门体压力梯度（PPG）从分流前平均23.5±5.9 mmHg下降至分流后平均12.1±3.3 mmHg（P<0.05）。除1例患者因感染性休克于围手术期死亡外，对手术成功的30例进行了随访（中位随访时间62.5个月）。10例发生分流道失功，其中4例再发消化道出血伴1例死亡、1例再发大量腹水、1例并发急性肠系膜静脉血栓、肠梗阻。10例出现显性肝性脑病，其中4例轻度发作经药物治疗后好转、1例反复发生3期肝性脑病行分流道限流术、5例术后死于肝功能衰竭。随访期间除上述6例死亡以外，另有2例因肺部疾病及1例因肝细胞癌死亡。余患者随访期间分流道通畅且未再发生静脉曲张破裂出血。术后第6个月随访结果显示，30例患者的平均血清白蛋白、血清总胆红素较术前改善（P<0.05）。 结论TIPS是治疗脾切除术后静脉曲张再出血安全且有效的方式。     

A modified procedure for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt flow reduction

The authors present a modified transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) flow reduction procedure to treat TIPS-related refractory hepatic encephalopathy, giving the results and follow-up on six patients. A 6-mm-diameter Uni Wallstent was introduced over a guide wire and deployed beyond the angulated portion of the TIPS. A Wallgraft was then introduced over the same guide wire, pushed through the Uni Wallstent coaxially, and deployed in the TIPS. All cases were technically and clinically successful. There were no deaths in the first month after the procedure. In this study, three patients had more than 1 year's patency.     

Portosplenic blood flow separation in a patient with portosystemic encephalopathy and a spontaneous splenorenal shunt

A patient with portosystemic encephalopathy, hyperammonemia, and a spontaneous splenorenal shunt was admitted to the authors' institution after a failed attempt at transvenous retrograde shunt obliteration. As an alternative approach, the authors separated splenic and portal flows by embolizing only the proximal splenic vein while leaving the shunt intact. Thus, the splenic flow could escape into the systemic circulation and an extreme increase in portal pressure was avoided. The procedure could provide rapid decreases in blood ammonia levels and a fast resolution of symptoms, but repeated interventions were required.     

Balloon occlusion portography to diagnose new-onset left hepatic vein thrombosis and widening of an existing wallstent TIPS by palmaz stents for recurrent portal hypertension and variceal bleeding

A 31-year-old man with Child's class A micronodular cirrhosis, left lobe hypertrophy, and a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) which had been placed 6 months earlier, was admitted for recurrent esophageal bleeding and a portosystemic gradient of 42 mmHg. Balloon occlusion portography documented unsuspected ostial thrombosis of the previously patent left hepatic vein. This was considered the cause of the pressure rise. As it was not possible to insert a second TIPS in parallel, the shunt, stented originally with 10-mm Wallstents, was overdilated to 12 mm, and two 12-mm Palmaz stents were placed coaxially, reducing the portosystemic pressure gradient to 13 mmHg.     

Preliminary results of a new expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent-graft for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedures.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) with a new expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent and the influence of the covering on occlusion rate. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty cirrhotic patients (57 +/- 11 years old) admitted with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding (n = 11), refractory ascites (n = 5), or both (n = 4) were included. Five of the patients were treated for TIPS revision, and 15 as de novo TIPS placements. The endoprostheses used were composed of a 2-cm noncovered nitinol stent and a 4- to 8-cm expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene graft covering, and were placed from the portal vein to the ostium of the hepatic vein. Patients underwent Doppler sonography at discharge and again at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months and underwent venography with portosystemic pressure gradient measurement at 6 months and whenever necessary. RESULTS: At the time of this writing, complications included three TIPS restenoses and one recurrent ascites successfully treated by balloon dilation, two cases of segmentary liver ischemia, and one patient with encephalopathy that required shunt reduction. After TIPS placement, the portosystemic pressure gradient dropped from 18 +/- 5 to 5 +/- 4 mm Hg. Primary and secondary patency rates were 80% and 100%, respectively, at 387 days. CONCLUSION: These results clearly show the feasibility of TIPS placement with the Gore TIPS endoprosthesis stent-graft and its improved patency compared with results in the literature for bare stents. These preliminary results must be certified further with randomized comparative trials between covered and noncovered TIPS stents.