Prognosis after splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization vs transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for esophagogastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND Portal hypertension combined with esophagogastric variceal bleeding(EGVB)is a serious complication in patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related cirrhosis in China.Splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization(SPD)and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)are effective treatments for EGVB.However,a comparison of the effectiveness and safety of those methods is lacking.AIM To compare the prognosis after SPD vs TIPS for acute EGVB after failure of endoscopic therapy or secondary prophylaxis of variceal rebleeding(VRB)in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis combined with portal hypertension.METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 318 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and EGVB who underwent SPD or TIPS at West China Hospital of Sichuan University during 2009-2013.Propensity score-matched analysis(PSM),the Kaplan-Meier method,and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival,VRB rate,liver function abnormality rate,and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)incidence between the two patient groups.RESULTS The median age was 45.0 years(n=318;226(71.1%)males).During a median follow-up duration of 43.0 mo,18(11.1%)and 33(21.2%)patients died in the SPD and TIPS groups,respectively.After PSM,SPD was significantly associated with better overall survival(OS)(P=0.01),lower rates of abnormal liver function(P<0.001),and a lower incidence of HCC(P=0.02)than TIPS.The VRB rate did not differ significantly between the two groups(P=0.09).CONCLUSION Compared with TIPS,SPD is associated with higher postoperative OS rates,lower rates of abnormal liver function and HCC,and better quality of survival as acute EGVB treatment after failed endoscopic therapy or as secondary prophylaxis of VRB in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis combined with portal hypertension.There is no significant between-group difference in VRB rates.

Efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in treating cirrhotic esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND Esophageal-gastric variceal bleeding(EGVB)represents a severe complication among patients with cirrhosis and often culminates in fatal outcomes.Interven-tional therapy,a rapidly developing treatment modality over the past few years,has found widespread application in clinical practice due to its minimally inva-sive characteristics.However,whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)treatment has an impact on patient prognosis remains controversial.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on ninety-two patients presenting with cirrhotic EGVB who were admitted to our hospital between September 2020 and September 2022.Based on the different modes of treatment,the patients were assigned to the study group(TIPS received,n=50)or the control group(per-cutaneous transhepatic varices embolization received,n=42).Comparative ana-lyses were performed between the two groups preoperatively and one month postoperatively for the following parameters:Varicosity status;hemodynamic parameters[portal vein flow velocity(PVV)and portal vein diameter(PVD);platelet count(PLT);red blood cell count;white blood cell count(WBC);and hepatic function[albumin(ALB),total bilirubin(TBIL),and aspartate transaminase(AST)].The Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 was utilized to assess quality of life in the two groups,and the 1-year postoperative rebleeding and survival rates were compared.RESULTS Following surgical intervention,there was an improvement in the incidence of varicosity compared to the preoperative status in both cohorts.Notably,the study group exhibited more pronounced enhancements than did the control group(P<0.05).PVV increased,and PVD decreased compared to the preoperative values,with the study cohort achieving better outcomes(P<0.05).PLT and WBC counts were elevated postoperatively in the two groups,with the study cohort displaying higher PLT and WBC counts(P<0.05).No differences were detected between the two groups in terms of serum ALB,TBIL,or AST levels either preoperatively or postoperatively(P<0.05).Postoperative scores across all dimensions of life quality surpassed preoperative scores,with the study cohort achieving higher scores(P<0.05).At 22.00%,the one-year postoperative rebleeding rate in the study cohort was significantly lower than that in the control group(42.86%;P<0.05);conversely,no marked difference was obser-ved in the 1-year postoperative survival rate between the two cohorts(P>0.05).CONCLUSION TIPS,which has demonstrated robust efficacy in managing cirrhotic EGVB,remarkably alleviates varicosity and improves hemodynamics in patients.This intervention not only results in a safer profile but also contributes significantly to a more favorable prognosis.

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with severe intratumoral arterioportal shunt

We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that caused a severe arterioportal shunt (APS). A 49-year-old man was admitted to hospital due to esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage and HCC, and underwent endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS). He was then referred to our hospital. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a lowdensity lesion in the posterior segment of the liver and an intratumoral APS, which caused portal hypertension. Although the patient underwent EVL, EIS, Hassab’s operation, and transcatheter arterial embolization for APS, he vomited blood due to rupture of esophagogastric varices. Right hepatectomy was performed for the treatment of HCC and APS, although the indocyanine green retention value at 15 min after intravenous injection was poor (30%). The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful. Eventually, APS disappeared and the esophagogastric varices improved.

A creatinine-based model for predicting recurrent bleeding after modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization in patients with cirrhosis

Background:Patients who survive initial esophagogastric variceal bleeding(EVB)are at an increased risk of recurrent bleeding and death;however,a reliable predictive model is lacking.We aimed to develop a model for rebleeding prediction in patients with EVB after modified percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE)with cyanoacrylate.Methods:A total of 122 patients with EVB who underwent PTVE from January 2015 to November 2020 were enrolled.Multivariate logistic analyses were conducted to determine independent risk factors for nomogram construction.The discrimination,calibration,and clinical utility of the nomogram were compared with the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score(MELD)and the Child–Pugh model.Risk stratification was performed according to the nomogram.Results:Rebleeding within 3 months of PTVE occurred in 32 patients(26.2%).Independent rebleeding indicators included prior history of endoscopic therapy,Child–Pugh score,partial splenic embolization,and creatinine level.The nomogram incorporating these four predictors achieved excellent calibration and discriminatory abilities,with a concordance index of 0.85,which was confirmed to be 0.83 through bootstrapping validation.The nomogram demonstrated superior discrimination and clinical applicability than the MELD and Child–Pugh models.As shown in the Kaplan–Meier curves,high-risk patients had a high probability of rebleeding(P<0.001).Conclusions:The creatinine-based nomogram had a superior ability to predict rebleeding after PTVE in patients with EVB.Risk stratification may help identify high-risk patients and lead to the earlier implementation of aggressive treatments and formulation of intensive follow-up plans.

Embolization combined with endoscopic variceal ligation for the treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis

Background Esophagogastric variceal bleeding caused by cirrhosis is a kind of emergent condition in the clinic. This study was conducted to explore the therapeutic effect and superiority of embolization of gastric fundus vadces combined with endoscopic variceal ligation （EVL） of esophageal varices for the treatment of patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding caused by cirrhosis. Methods Totally 172 patients were diagnosed by endoscopic examination within 24 hours of hospitalization with active gastric fundus variceal bleeding and grade II above esophageal varices caused by cirrhosis. Other causes leading to upper digestive tract bleeding were excluded. Patients were randomly divided into a control group （n=82） and a therapy group （n=-90） following a random number table method. For the former, embolization for gastric fundus varices was performed, then an EVL for esophageal varices was performed 2 months later. For the therapy group, embolization for gastric fundus varices and EVL for esophageal varices were performed at the same time. Results The rate of emergency hemostasis in the therapy group was 100.0%, higher than that in the control group （87.8%, P〈0.05）. The rate of early rebleeding in the therapy group was 6.7% while the rate in the control group was 23.6% （P〈0.05）. No complications related to treatment occurred in both groups. Conclusion Embolization for gastric fundus varices combined with EVL for esophageal varices is a safe and effective method for the treatment of patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding caused by cirrhosis.