Abstract | PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts ( TIPS) in 45 patients with cirrhosis during a mean follow-up of 7 months. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients treated by TIPS and who had been followed for at least 6 months after TIPS or until death, were included. Mean follow-up was 7.2 +/- 5.0 months. Shunt patency was assessed at 1 week and 1 month, then every 3 months after the procedure by Doppler US and angiography whenever needed. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients had been stented for refractory bleeding from ruptured esophagogastric varices. Of these, 8 patients (22%) rebled, 7 of whom were treated by a second shunt. Nine patients were treated for refractory ascites. Three patients had recurrent ascites due to shunt obstruction. All were treated by a second shunt which occluded in 2 patients. As a whole, 14 (31.1%) patients developed shunt obstruction within a mean of 120 +/- 136 days, 4 of whom remained asymptomatic. Other complications were septicemia by Staphylococcus aureus in 1 patient, transient encephalopathy in 9 patients, and disseminated intravascular coagulation in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS:
TIPS appears to be a relatively safe and effective technique in treating complications of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis. Shunt obstruction in 31% of our patients probably represents the most important limitation of this technique.
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Authors | H Rousseau, J P Vinel, J I Bilbao, J M Longo, P Maquin, J M Zozaya, L Garcia-Villareal, B Coustet, N Railhac, J J Railhac |
Journal | Cardiovascular and interventional radiology
(Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol)
1994 Jan-Feb
Vol. 17
Issue 1
Pg. 7-11
ISSN: 0174-1551 [Print] United States |
PMID | 8187135
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Ascites
(etiology, surgery)
- Esophageal and Gastric Varices
(etiology)
- Follow-Up Studies
- Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
(etiology)
- Humans
- Hypertension, Portal
(complications, surgery)
- Liver Cirrhosis
(complications)
- Middle Aged
- Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical
(methods, mortality)
- Stents
- Survival Rate
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