Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in liver transplant recipients for management of refractory ascites: clinical outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation in liver transplant recipients with recurrent portal hypertension presenting with refractory ascites.


METHODS
A retrospective review of transplant recipients undergoing TIPS creation was performed over a 6-year period. Recipients were noted for age, sex, TIPS indication, Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, cause of initial liver disease, and time between first transplantation and TIPS creation. Clinical success was defined as graft survival of longer than 1 month with improvement in ascites. New-onset or worsening encephalopathy was noted. Graft survival and patency were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. MELD score and portosystemic gradient (PSG) before and after TIPS creation were evaluated for prediction of graft loss less than 3 months after TIPS creation.


RESULTS
Nineteen liver transplant recipients underwent TIPS creation for ascites. Mean time from transplantation was 3.5 years (range, 3.7-112.2 months). Mean MELD score before TIPS creation was 17 (range, 7-24). The technical, hemodynamic, and clinical success rates were 100%, 95%, and 16%, respectively. Encephalopathy developed in five patients (26%). Thirty- and 90-day mortality rates were 16% (n = 3) and 21% (n = 4), respectively. Primary unassisted patency and graft survival rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were 100%, 90%, and 90% and 79%, 58%, and 47%, respectively. MELD score parameters were significant indicators (P < .05) for graft survival beyond 3 months, but PSG parameters were not.


CONCLUSIONS
TIPS for the management of ascites in liver transplant recipients is not as clinically effective as it is in patients with native livers (16% vs 50%-80% in the literature). MELD score is a predictor of graft survival; PSG parameters are not.
Saad
Wael E A
WE
Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA. wspikes@yahoo.com
Darwish
Wael M
WM
Davies
Mark G
MG
Waldman
David L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D055815:Young Adult