Objective: To evaluate transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in variceal bleeding in a clinical setting.
Materials and methods: Retrospective review of 131 patients (116 with liver cirrhosis) treated with TIPS with covered stent grafts in a single centre from 2002 to 2016.
Results: Survival at 1 and 2 years was 70% and 57% in patents with, and 100% at 2 years in patients without liver cirrhosis, respectively. A high Child-Pugh score and severe hepatic encephalopathy (HE) within 12 months post-TIPS were related to increased mortality. Re-bleeding occurred in 8% within 12 months and was related to TIPS dysfunction and a post-TIPS portosystemic gradient (PSG) of ≥5 mmHg. The main cause of TIPS dysfunction was that the stent did not fully reach the inferior vena cava. There was no correlation between the PSG and the occurrence of HE.
Conclusions: TIPS was safe and prevented re-bleeding in patients with variceal bleeding, with or without liver cirrhosis, regardless of Child-Pugh class and of how soon after bleeding onset, the TIPS procedure was performed. A post-TIPS PSG of ≥5 mmHg was associated with an increased risk for re-bleeding and there was no correlation between the post-TIPS PSG and the occurrence of HE.
Keywords: TIPS; TIPS dysfunction; Variceal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy; liver cirrhosis; portal hypertension; portosystemic gradient; re-bleeding; transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.