Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Experiences at a liver transplantation center.
OBJECTIVE
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement is an established therapy for portal hypertension that leads to variceal bleeding or refractory ascites. We present experiences of the role of TIPS at a liver transplantation center.


METHODS
One hundred and ten patients were referred to the Radiological Department for TIPS placement. One of the 110 patients had recurrent cirrhosis after liver transplantation with refractory ascites. Function of the TIPS was controlled with Doppler US at 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks and 4 months after TIPS placement and subsequently every 3 months. Shunt insufficiency was supposed when the blood flow velocity within the stent tract was under 50 cm/s and was an indication for TIPS revision.


RESULTS
TIPS was placed in 101 patients. After TIPS placement, 10 patients underwent liver transplantation. While waiting for the new liver, none of them developed variceal rebleeding, ascites or other complications of portal hypertension. Two of the 101 patients had episodes of rebleeding. The frequency of patients undergoing TIPS revision within the first year after TIPS placement was 67.5%, within the second year 38.0% and within the third year 24.4%. The revisions led to sufficient reduction of the portosystemic pressure gradient.


CONCLUSIONS
In some liver transplant candidates, TIPS can be useful in minimizing the risk of complications of portal hypertension during the waiting time for a liver transplantation. TIPS can be monitored by Doppler US and revised if occlusion occurs.
Hidajat
N
N
Department of Radiology, Charité Campus Virchow-Clinic, Medical Faculty, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany.
Vogl
T
T
Stobbe
H
H
Schmidt
J
J
Wex
C
C
Lenzen
R
R
Berg
T
T
Neuhaus
P
P
Felix
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000601:surgery; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D000075202:Contraindications; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D011172:Portography; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler