Influence of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) on tissue oxygenation in patients with cirrhosis.
AIMS/BACKGROUNDS: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the influence of transjugular portosystemic intrahepatic shunts (TIPS) on tissue oxygenation in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.


METHODS
Five shunted patients were included in the study. The blood and tissue oxygenation values were analyzed 12 days and 4 months after TIPS procedure. The results were compared with those observed in patients treated by paracentesis.


RESULTS
Unlike patients treated by paracentesis, PaO2 values remained unchanged throughout follow-up in shunted patients. After the TIPS procedure, there was a transient increase in systemic O2 transport and O2 uptake and a transient decrease in O2 saturation of hepatic oxyhemoglobin. After 4 months, TIPS resulted in an increase in PCO2 values and bicarbonate concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The TIPS procedure seems to prevent the decrease in PaO2 observed in patients treated by paracentesis and may improve the respiratory alkalosis of cirrhosis.
Unité de Recherche de Physiopathologie Hépatique (INSERM), Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.
C
C
Denié
F
F
Vachiéry
A
A
Gadano
P
P
Sogni
A
A
Elman
R
R
Moreau
D
D
Valla
D
D
Lebrec
D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D011446:Prospective Studies
D010100:Oxygen