Polyurethane-coated Dacron-covered stent-grafts for TIPS: results in swine.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate shunt patency after placing a new polyurethane-coated Dacron-covered spiral Z stent-graft to create a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).


METHODS
TIPS stent-grafts were placed in six young swine, using polyurethane-coated, Dacron-covered spiral Z stent-grafts. Animals were followed weekly by transhepatic portal venography until shunt occlusion or up to 6 weeks, then were sacrificed for gross and histologic evaluation.


RESULTS
Five of six TIPS stent-grafts were found to be occluded by 3 weeks and none were patent at 6 weeks. Histologic evaluation demonstrated a marked foreign body reaction with superimposed thrombosis occluding the graft lumen.


CONCLUSIONS
Polyurethane-coated Dacron-covered stent-grafts do not improve TIPS patency.
Bloch
R
R
Dotter Interventional Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA.
Pavcnik
D
D
Uchida
B T
BT
Krajina
A
A
Kamino
T
T
Timmermans
H
H
Loriaux
M
M
Hulek
P
P
D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006085:Graft Survival; D008422:Materials Testing; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011172:Portography; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011140:Polyurethanes