PTFE-covered stents improve TIPS patency in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Abstract

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) have been shown to be an efficient portal-systemic derivative treatment for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) patients uncontrolled by medical therapy. However, the main drawback of TIPS for this condition is a very high rate of shunt dysfunction. Recently, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents have been shown to reduce the incidence of TIPS dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of TIPS dysfunction in 2 cohorts of BCS patients treated with bare or PTFE-covered stents. The study included 25 TIPS procedures (16 bare stents and 9 covered stents) with a median follow-up period of 20.4 months (range, 3.9-124.8). Fourteen of 16 patients (87%) receiving bare stents had TIPS dysfunction compared to 3 of the 9 patients (33%) receiving PTFE-covered stents (P = .005). The actuarial rates of primary patency in the bare-stent group were 19% at 1 year compared with 67% in the PTFE-covered stent group (P = .02; log-rank test). The number of additional interventional procedures to maintain TIPS patency was significantly greater in the bare-stent than in the PTFE-covered stent group (1.9 +/- 1.2 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.9; P = .007). The number of patients with clinical relapses was greater in the bare-stent group compared to the PTFE-covered stent group (13 vs. 5 episodes in 9 and 3 patients, respectively). In conclusion, PTFE-covered stents have a considerable advantage over bare stents for the TIPS treatment of BCS patients, with a lower dysfunction rate, a lower number of reinterventions, and fewer prosthesis requirements. PTFE-covered stents are preferable in patients with Budd-Chiari Syndrome.

• Authors: Manuel Hernández-Guerra, Juan Turnes, Pablo Rubinstein, Simon Olliff, Elwyn Elias, Jaime Bosch, Juan Carlos García-Pagán
• Journal: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) Vol. 40 Issue 5 Pg. 1197-202 (Nov 2004) ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15486923 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Coated Materials, Biocompatible
• Polytetrafluoroethylene

Topics

• Actuarial Analysis
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Budd-Chiari Syndrome (physiopathology, surgery)
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polytetrafluoroethylene
• Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic (adverse effects)
• Retreatment (statistics & numerical data)
• Stents
• Vascular Patency