The use of a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent graft for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): Long-term follow-up of 100 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively evaluate results and clinical outcome of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) after implantation of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stent graft.


METHODS
The stent graft was used in 112 patients with higher risk of primary (i.e. patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome) or secondary shunt failure (patients with occlusion of a previous uncovered stent), or a complicated TIPS procedure with an imminent technical complication requiring covered stent. Patients were scheduled at 3- to 6-month intervals for duplex-sonographic control of shunt function. Radiological revision was performed in patients with a decrease in shunt function by >25%, primary non-response, or relapse of the index symptom.


RESULTS
Twelve patients were lost to follow-up, and 100 patients were followed for 22+/-15 months. The actuarial rates of shunt patency were 90, 84, and 74% at 1, 2, and 3 years of follow-up, respectively. Two patients developed early (within 1 month) and 14 patients late shunt failure. Except for one transient rise in liver enzymes due to outflow obstruction by the stent graft, no technical complications were seen. Primary response to treatment was seen in 97% of patients treated for variceal bleeding and 84% of patients treated for refractory ascites. A relapse of the index symptom was seen in 13% of bleeders and 9% of patients treated for refractory ascites.


CONCLUSIONS
TIPS created with a PTFE-covered stent graft showed favorable long-term results.
Rössle
M
M
Med. Klinik II, Albrecht-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany. martin-roessle@t-online.de
Siegerstetter
V
V
Euringer
W
W
Olschewski
M
M
Kromeier
J
J
Kurz
K
K
Langer
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene