Adjuvant Transjugular Variceal Occlusion at Creation of a Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS): Efficacy and Risks of Bucrylate Embolization

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with or without variceal embolization to prevent variceal rebleeding: an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established treatment for portal hypertension complications. Still, the role of adjuvant variceal embolization is a matter of debate. Thus, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TIPS with variceal embolization versus TIPS alone to prevent variceal rebleeding.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used PubMed, CENTRAL, and OVID to search for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative observational studies up to 17 June 20221117 June 2022. We pooled binary outcomes using risk ratios (RRs) presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using RevMan 5.4.

RESULTS

We included 11 studies (two RCTs and nine observational studies) with 1024 patients. Pooled RR favored TIPS with embolization in preventing variceal rebleeding (RR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.76); however, there was no difference between the two groups regarding shunt dysfunction (RR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.68, 1.23), encephalopathy (RR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.11), and death (RR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.77, 1.22).

CONCLUSIONS

TIPS with embolization can be an effective strategy for preventing variceal rebleeding; however, our results should be interpreted cautiously as most data were observational and the technical quality of the embolization is questionable. Further RCTs are required using the proper techniques of embolization and comparing TIPS with embolization with other treatment modalities such as endoscopic ligation, and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Preliminary clinical observation of double C-arm digital subtraction angiography guidance during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the safety, preliminary clinical experience, and technical advantages of double C-arm digital subtraction angiography -assisted portal vein puncture for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

METHODS

Clinical data of 25 patients with portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed from January 2021 to June 2022. The fluoroscopy time, puncture time, mean portosystemic pressure gradient, dose area product, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

RESULTS

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was performed in all 25 patients, with a success rate of 100%. The fluoroscopy time, puncture time, and dose area product were 33.6 ± 8.5 min, 9.1 ± 5.7 min, and 126 ± 53 Gy·cm², respectively. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 22.5 ± 6.3 mmHg to 10.5 ± 2.3 mmHg (p < 0.01). No serious intraoperative and postoperative complications were found.

CONCLUSION

Double C-arm digital subtraction angiography-assisted portal vein puncture is safe and feasible in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt operation. It can reduce the difficulty of the operation and possesses evident technical advantages.

North American Practice-Based Recommendations for Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts in Portal Hypertension

Complications of portal hypertension, including ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic hydrothorax, and hepatic encephalopathy, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite few high-quality randomized controlled trials to guide therapeutic decisions, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation has emerged as a crucial therapeutic option to treat complications of portal hypertension. In North America, the decision to perform TIPS involves gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and interventional radiologists, but TIPS creation is performed by interventional radiologists. This is in contrast to other parts of the world where TIPS creation is performed primarily by hepatologists. Thus, the successful use of TIPS in North America is dependent on a multidisciplinary approach and technical expertise, so as to optimize outcomes. Recently, new procedural techniques, TIPS stent technology, and indications for TIPS have emerged. As a result, practices and outcomes vary greatly across institutions and significant knowledge gaps exist. In this consensus statement, the Advancing Liver Therapeutic Approaches group critically reviews the application of TIPS in the management of portal hypertension. Advancing Liver Therapeutic Approaches convened a multidisciplinary group of North American experts from hepatology, interventional radiology, transplant surgery, nephrology, cardiology, pulmonology, and hematology to critically review existing literature and develop practice-based recommendations for the use of TIPS in patients with any cause of portal hypertension in terms of candidate selection, procedural best practices and, post-TIPS management; and to develop areas of consensus for TIPS indications and the prevention of complications. Finally, future research directions are identified related to TIPS for the management of portal hypertension.

Preoperative portal vein recanalization-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for chronic obliterative portal vein thrombosis: Outcomes following liver transplantation

High-grade portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is often considered to be a technically challenging scenario for liver transplantation (LT) and in some centers a relative contraindication. This study compares patients with chronic obliterative PVT who underwent portal vein recanalization-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PVR-TIPS) and subsequent LT to those with partial nonocclusive PVT who underwent LT without an intervention. This institutional review board-approved study analyzed 49 patients with cirrhosis with PVT from 2000 to 2020 at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups, those that received PVR-TIPS due to anticipated surgical challenges from chronic obliterative PVT and those who did not because of partial PVT. Demographic data and long-term outcomes were compared. A total of 35 patients received PVR-TIPS while 14 did not, with all receiving LT. Patients with PVR-TIPS had a higher Yerdel score and frequency of cavernoma than those that did not. PVR-TIPS was effective in decreasing portosystemic gradient (16 down to 8 mm HG; p < 0.05). Both groups allowed for end-to-end anastomoses in >90% of cases. However, veno-veno bypass was used significantly more in patients who did not receive PVR-TIPS. Additionally, patients without PVR-TIPS required significantly more intraoperative red blood cells. Overall survival was not different between groups. PVR-TIPS demonstrated efficacy in resolving PVT and allowed for end-to-end portal vein anastomoses. PVR-TIPS is a viable treatment option for chronic obliterative PVT with or without cavernoma that simplifies the surgical aspects of LT.

Emergency tips recanalisation and gastroesophageal varices embolisation with an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer agent (Squid) and detachable coils

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is currently indicated as first therapeutic option in the main complications of portal hypertension, including bleeding gastroesophageal varices and refractory ascites. In case of bleeding gastroesophageal varices, an adjuvant embolisation within TIPS can be useful to prevent rebleeding. In the present technical note, the management in emergency of a patient with haemorrhagic shock due to bleeding gastroesophageal varices and occluded TIPS is reported. TIPS recanalisation with an adjunctive stent and high-pressure balloon angioplasty and gastroesophageal varices embolisation using detachable coils and a non-adhesive liquid embolic agent were performed during the same emergent procedure. After the procedure, clinical stabilisation of the patient was achieved, with blood transfusions suspension and Blakemore tube removal. At 6 months, regular TIPS patency at colour Doppler and no rebleeding episodes were recorded. To our knowledge, whilst coils are routinely used for varices embolisation, non-adhesive liquid embolic agents have been never mentioned. Liquid embolic agents seem to provide a stable plug strengthening the embolising action of the coils. Further studies involving a cohort of patients with long-term follow-up will be necessary to confirm whether this association can be more effective than coils alone in gastroesophageal varices embolisation.

30 Jahre transjugulärer intrahepatischer portosystemischer Shunt (TIPS) – Rückblick und Perspektive

Der transjuguläre intrahepatische portosystemische Shunt (TIPS) wird seit 30 Jahren in der Therapie der portalen Hypertonie erfolgreich eingesetzt. In nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien ist die Indikation zur TIPS-Anlage bei Varizenblutung und refraktärem Aszites wissenschaftlich gut belegt und klar definiert. Bei seltenen Indikationen wie dem hepatorenalen Syndrom, der Pfortaderthrombose oder dem neoadjuvanten Einsatz fehlt derzeit noch eine eindeutige Studienlage. Eine wichtige Kontraindikation und klinisch bedeutendste Komplikation nach TIPS ist die hepatische Enzephalopathie (HE). Es wird versucht, die Post-TIPS HE mit technischen Weiterentwicklungen der Stents zu reduzieren.

Emergent Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation in Acute Variceal Bleeding

Emergent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation is most commonly employed in the setting of acute variceal hemorrhage. Given a propensity for decompensation, these patients often require a multidisciplinary, multimodal approach involving prompt diagnosis, pharmacologic therapy, and endoscopic intervention. While successful in the majority of cases, failure to medically control initial bleeding can prompt interventional radiology consultation for emergent portal decompression via TIPS creation. This article discusses TIPS creation in emergent, acute variceal hemorrhage, reviewing the natural history of gastroesophageal varices, presentation and diagnosis of acute variceal hemorrhage, pharmacologic therapy, endoscopic approaches, patient selection and risk stratification for TIPS, technical considerations for TIPS creation, adjunctive embolotherapy, and the role of salvage TIPS versus early TIPS in acute variceal hemorrhage.