Combined transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and other interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal hypertension

AIM: To evaluate combination transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) and other interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and portal hypertension.METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-one patients with HCC and portal hypertension underwent TIPS combined with other interventional treatments(transarterial chemoembolization/transarterial embolization,radiofrequency ablation,hepatic arterio-portal fistulas embolization,and splenic artery embolization) from January 1997 to January 2010 at Beijing Shijitan Hospital. Two hundred and nine patients(121 male and 88 female,aged 25-69 years,mean 48.3 ± 12.5 years) with complete clinical data were recruited. We evaluated the safety of the procedure(procedurerelated death and serious complications),change of portal vein pressure before and after TIPS,symptom relief [e.g.,ascites,hydrothorax,esophageal gastricfundus variceal bleeding(EGVB)],cumulative rates of survival,and distributary channel restenosis. The characteristics of the patients surviving ≥ 5 and < 5 years were also analyzed.RESULTS: The portosystemic pressure was decreased from 29.0 ± 4.1 mm Hg before TIPS to 18.1 ± 2.9 mm Hg after TIPS(t = 69.32,P < 0.05). Portosystemic pressure was decreased and portal hypertension symptoms were ameliorated. During the 5 year followup,the total recurrence rate of resistant ascites or hydrothorax was 7.2%(15/209); 36.8%(77/209) for EGVB; and 39.2%(82/209) for hepatic encephalopathy. The cumulative rates of distributary channel restenosis at 1,2,3,4,and 5 years were 17.2%(36/209),29.7%(62/209),36.8%(77/209),45.5%(95/209) and 58.4%(122/209),respectively. No procedure-related deaths and serious complications(e.g.,abdominal bleeding,hepatic failure,and distant metastasis) occurred. Moreover,Child-Pugh score,portal vein tumor thrombosis,lesion diameter,hepatic arterio-portal fistulas,HCC diagnosed before or after TIPS,stent type,hepatic encephalopathy,and type of other interventional treatments were related to 5 year survival after comparing patient characteristics.CONCLUSION: TIPS combined with other interventional treatments seems to be safe and efficacious in patients with HCC and portal hypertension.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for severe jaundice in patients with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome

AIM:To evaluate the feasibility of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)for severe jaundice secondary to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS).METHODS:From February 2009 to March 2013,37patients with severe jaundice secondary to acute BCS were treated.Sixteen patients without hepatic venule,hepatic veins(HV)obstruction underwent percutaneous angioplasty of the inferior vena cava(IVC)and/or HVs.Twenty-one patients with HV occlusion underwent TIPS.Serum bilirubin,liver function,demographic data and operative data of the two groups of patients were analyzed.RESULTS:Twenty-one patients underwent TIPS and the technical success rate was 100%,with no technical complications.Sixteen patients underwent recanalization of the IVC and/or HVs and the technical success rate was 100%.The mean procedure time for TIPS was 84.0±12.11 min and angioplasty was44.11±5.12 min(P<0.01).The mean portosystemic pressure in the TIPS group decreased significantly from 40.50±4.32 to 16.05±3.50 mm Hg(P<0.01).The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased significantly from 33.60±2.62 to 7.30±2.21 mm Hg(P<0.01).At 8 wk after the procedures,in the TIPS group,total bilirubin(TBIL)decreased significantly from 266.24±122.03 before surgery to 40.11±3.52μmol/L(P<0.01)and direct bilirubin(DBIL)decreased significantly from 194.22±69.82μmol/L to 29.82±3.10μmol/L(P<0.01).In the angioplasty group,bilirubin returned to the normal range,with TBIL decreased significantly from 258.22±72.71μmol/L to 13.33±3.54μmol/L(P<0.01)and DBIL from175.08±39.27 to 4.03±1.74μmol/L(P<0.01).Liver function improved faster than TBIL.After 2 wk,in the TIPS group,alanine aminotransferase(ALT)decreased significantly from 50.33±40.61 U/L to 28.67±7.02U/L(P<0.01)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)from 49.46±34.33 U/L to 26.89±8.68 U/L(P<0.01).In the angioplasty group,ALT decreased significantly from 51.56±27.90 to 14.22±2.59μmol/L(P<0.01)and AST from 60.66±39.89μmol/L to 8.18±1.89μmol/L(P<0.01).After mean follow-up of 12.6 mo,there was no recurrence of jaundice in either group.CONCLUSION:Severe jaundice is not a contraindication for TIPS in patients with acute BCS and TIPS is appropriate for severe jaundice due to BCS.