A new choice of stent for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation: Viabahn ePTFE covered stent/bare metal stent combination

Objectives:To compare the clinical outcomes in terms of structure and function between the insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) created with the Viabahn ePTFE covered stent/bare metal stent(BMS) combination and the Fluency ePTFE covered stent/BMS combination.Methods:A total of 101 consecutive patients who received a TIPS from February 2016 to August 2018 in our center were retrospectively analyzed.Sixty-four subjects were enrolled in the Viabahn group and 37 were enrolled in the Fluency group.The geometry characteristics of the TIPS were calculated,and the associated occurrence of shunt dysfunction,survival,overt hepatic encephalopathy,and variceal rebleeding were evaluated.Results:The technical success rate was 100%.After the insertion of the TIPS,the rate of shunt dysfunction during the first 3 months was significantly different between the Viabahn and Fluency groups(1.6% and 13.5%,respectively;p=0.024).Multivariate analysis indicated that the angle of portal venous inflow(α) was the only independent risk factor for shunt dysfunction(hazard ratio=1.060,95% confidence interval=1.009-1.112,p=0.020).In addition,3 months after the TIPS insertion,the a angle distinctly increased from 20.9°±14.3°-26.9°±20.1°(p=0.005) in the Fluency group but did not change significantly in the Viabahn group(from 21.9°±15.1°-22.9°± 17.6°,p=0.798).Conclusions:Shunt dysfunction was related to the a angle owing to the slight effect on the a angle after the implantation of the TIPS.The Viabahn ePTFE covered stent/BMS combination was more stable in structure and promised higher short-term stent patency compared with the Fluency ePTFE covered stent/BMS combination.

Clinical efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt created through left or right branches of the portal vein:A meta-analysis

Background and aim:Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a technique successfully used to treat portal hypertension and its complications.However,the choice of the branch,left(L)or right(R),of the portal vein resulting in a better outcome is still under debate.Therefore,this meta-analysis aims to evaluate which branch has a better curative effect on patients treated with TIPS.Methods:PubMed,EMBASE,Web of science,Cochrane Library databases,Wanfang database and CBM were used for our search in October 2019 and updated in June 2021.The following parameters were used in evaluation:overall mortality,hepatic encephalopathy,shunt dysfunction,variceal rebleeding and rate of postoperative ascites.Results:There were seven studies included.The sample size was 1940.A lower risk of mortality was observed in TIPS-L-treated patients compared with TIPS-R-treated ones(OR=0.65,95%CI=0.50-0.85,p=0.002).A lower risk of shunt dysfunction was observed in TIPS-L-treated patients compared with TIPS-R-treated ones(OR=0.53,95%CI=0.33-0.87,p=0.01).And the TIPS-L group had a significantly higher hepatic encephalopathy-free rate than the TIPS-R group(OR=0.59,95%CI=0.44-0.78,p=0.0002).However,the rate of rebleeding(OR=0.75,95%CI=0.55-1.03,p=0.07)and incidence of postoperative ascites(OR=1.14,95%CI=0.86-1.51,p=0.38)was not statistically significant between the two groups.Conclusions:Based on the currently available evidence,the technique of TIPS through the left branch of the portal vein can significantly reduce the occurrence of overall postoperative mortality,hepatic encephalopathy and shunt dysfunction.

Computed tomography-based score model/nomogram for predicting technical and midterm outcomes in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt treatment for symptomatic portal cavernoma

BACKGROUND Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)may be technically difficult in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein(CTPV).Computed tomography(CT)is widely used for assessing the situation of the portal vein and its tributaries before TIPS,and an ultrasound-based Yerdel grading system has been developed,which is deemed useful for liver transplantation.Therefore,we hypothesized that a CT-based CTPV scoring system could be useful for predicting technical and midterm outcomes in TIPS treatment for symptomatic portal cavernoma.AIM To investigate the clinical significance of a CT-based score model/nomogram for predicting technical success and midterm outcome in TIPS treatment for symptomatic CTPV.METHODS Patients with symptomatic CTPV who had undergone TIPS from January 2010 to June 2017 were retrospectively analysed.The CTPV was graded with a score of 1-4 based on contrast-CT imaging findings of the diseased vessel.Outcome measures were technical success rate,stent patency rate,and midterm survival.Cohen’s kappa statistic,the Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests,and uni-and multivariable analyses were performed.A nomogram was constructed and verified by calibration and decision curve analysis.RESULTS A total of 76 patients(45 men and 31 women;mean age,52.3±14.7 years)were enrolled in the study.The inter-reader agreement(κ)of the CTPV score was 0.81.TIPS was successfully placed in 78%of patients(59/76).The independent predictor of technical success was CTPV score(odds ratio[OR]=5.56,95%confidence interval[CI]:3.55-9.67,P=0.002).The independent predictors of primary TIPS patency were CTPV score and splenectomy(OR=9.22,95%CI:4.78-13.45,P=0.009;OR=4.67,95%CI:2.59-7.44,P=0.017).The survival rates differed significantly between the TIPS success and failure groups.The clinical nomogram was made up of patient age,model for end-stage liver disease score,and CTPV score.The calibration curves and decision curve analysis verified the usefulness of the CTPV score-based nomogram for clinical practice.CONCLUSION TIPS should be considered a safe and feasible therapy for patients with symptomatic CTPV.Furthermore,the CT-based score model/nomogram might aid interventional radiologists in therapeutic decision-making.

Selection of a TIPS stent for management of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis: An evidence-based review

Nowadays,transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)has become a mainstay treatment option for the management of portal hypertension-related complications in liver cirrhosis.Accumulated evidence has shown that its indications are being gradually expanded.Notwithstanding,less attention has been paid for the selection of an appropriate stent during a TIPS procedure.Herein,we attempt to review the current evidence regarding the diameter,type,brand,and position of TIPS stents.Several following recommendations may be considered in the clinical practice:(1)a 10-mm stent may be more effective than an 8-mm stent for the management of portal hypertension,and may be superior to a 12-mm stent for the improvement of survival and shunt patency;(2)covered stents are superior to bare stents for reducing the development of shunt dysfunction;(3)if available,Viatorr stent-grafts may be recommended due to a higher rate of shunt patency;and(4)the placement of a TIPS stent in the left portal vein branch may be more reasonable for decreasingthe development of hepatic encephalopathy.However,given relatively low quality of evidence,prospective well-designed studies should be warranted to further confirm these recommendations.