Project description:BackgroundTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) may be used as a salvage treatment in patients with cirrhosis and refractory variceal bleeding.AimTo synthesize the available evidence on the efficacy of TIPS in patients with cirrhosis and refractory variceal bleeding.MethodsMeta-analysis of trials evaluating TIPS in patients with cirrhosis and refractory variceal bleeding, including subgroup analysis to assess the impact of recent changes in the management of variceal bleeding (i.e., the use of Polytetrafluoroethylene-covered TIPS and the availability of pre-emptive TIPS as a first-line treatment for acute variceal bleeding).ResultsTwenty-three studies with 1430 patients were included. The pooled estimate rates were 0.33 (95% CI = 0.29-0.37) for death at 1 month-6 weeks, 0.46 (95% CI = 0.40-0.52) for death at 1 year, and 0.09 (95% CI = 0.06-0.11) for death due to rebleeding in the follow-up. The pooled estimate rates for death at 1 month or 6 weeks were similar in subgroup analyses including studies that did not use covered TIPS or that did not include patients after the pre-emptive TIPS area compared to the ones that did (pooled estimate rate 0.33 [95% CI = 0.28-0.38] and 0.32 [95% CI = 0.25-0.39], respectively). The pooled estimate rates were 0.16 (95% CI = 0.13-0.18) for rebleeding, 0.25 (95% CI = 0.17-0.36) for occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy, and 0.08 (95% CI = 0.05-0.13) for access to liver transplantation after TIPS insertion.ConclusionsOne third of patients with cirrhosis and refractory variceal bleeding treated with salvage TIPS died within the first 6 weeks. Recent improvements in the management of variceal bleeding did not improve the survival of patients presenting with refractory variceal bleeding.
Project description:Background and aimEarly transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) used as preventive therapy prior to recurrent bleeding has been recommended in patients presenting with acute esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) who are at high risk of further bleeding and death. We investigated the impact of early TIPS on outcomes of US patients hospitalized with EVB from 2000 to 2010.MethodsThe Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried to identify patients with EVB and decompensated cirrhosis (because early TIPS is recommended only in high-risk patients). The primary outcome was in-hospital death, and secondary outcomes included rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy. Early preventive TIPS was defined by placement within 3 days of hospitalization for acute EVB after one session of endoscopic therapy. Rescue TIPS was defined as TIPS after two interventions for EVB.ResultsThe study included 142 539 patients. From 2000 to 2010, the age-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate decreased 37.2% from 656 per 100 000 to 412 per 100 000 (P <0.01), while early and rescue TIPS increased (0.22% to 0.70%; P < 0.01 and 1.1% to 6.1%; P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, as compared with no TIPS, early TIPS was associated with decreased inpatient mortality (risk ratio [RR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.90) and rebleeding (RR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.45-0.71) without an increase in hepatic encephalopathy (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93-1.11).ConclusionEarly preventive TIPS in patients with EVB and decompensated cirrhosis was associated with significant in-hospital reductions in rebleeding and mortality without a significant increase in encephalopathy in "real-world" US clinical practice.
Project description:Background and aimsTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) are used in patients with cirrhosis for the prevention of variceal rebleeding.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated re-bleeding rate, patency, mortality, and transplant-free survival (TFS) in cirrhotic patients receiving TIPS implantation for variceal bleeding between 1994-2014.Results286 patients received TIPS (n = 119 bare metal stents, n = 167 polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE)-covered stents) for prevention of variceal re-bleeding. Mean age was 55.1 years, median MELD was 11.8, and the main etiology of cirrhosis was alcoholic liver disease (70%). Median follow-up was 821 days. 67 patients (23%) experienced at least one re-bleeding event. Patients with PTFE-TIPS were at significantly lower risk for variceal re-bleeding than patients with bare metal stents (14% vs. 37%, OR:0.259; p<0.001) and had less need for stent revision (21% vs. 37%; p = 0.024). Patients with PTFE stent grafts showed lower mortality than patients with bare stents after 1 year (19% vs. 31%, p = 0.020) and 2 years (29% vs. 40%; p = 0.041) after TIPS implantation. Occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS was similar between groups (20% vs. 24%, p = 0.449).ConclusionsPTFE-TIPS were more effective at preventing variceal re-bleeding than bare metal stents due to better patency. Since this tended to translate in improved survival, only covered stents should be implemented for bleeding prophylaxis when TIPS is indicated.
Project description:Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion has been well established as an effective treatment in the management of sequelae of portal hypertension. There are a wide variety of complications that can be encountered, such as hemorrhage, encephalopathy, TIPS dysfunction, and liver failure. This review article summarizes various approaches to preventing and managing these complications.
Project description:Sarcopenia is common in patients with liver cirrhosis and related to higher mortality. Implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a feasible method for reducing cirrhosis-related portal hypertension, but also possible improvement of the patient`s muscle status. We aimed to analyze changes in muscle quantity and prevalence of sarcopenia after TIPS. We retrospectively surveyed the muscle status in 52 patients (mean age 54.2 years) before and after TIPS by evaluating skeletal (SMI) and psoas muscle indices (PMI) in CT and MR images. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), Freiburg index of post-TIPS survival (FIPS), and their underlying laboratory parameters (e.g., Albumin) were analyzed. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 84.6%. After a median follow-up of 16.5 months after TIPS, SMI (0.020) and PMI (p < 0.001) increased, and sarcopenia decreased by 14.8% (0.109). MELD and PMI after TIPS were negatively correlated (r = - 0.536, p < 0.001). Albumin levels increased in patients with increased SMI after TIPS (p = 0.022). Confirming the positive impact of TIPS implantation on muscle indices in patients with liver cirrhosis, we found indications for improved survival and possible indications for altered metabolism with increased albumin levels in patients with increased muscle quantity.
Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS:The management of patients with refractory ascites (RA) is challenging, particularly at higher age. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established treatment for RA, but safety data in elderly patients are rare. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of TIPS in elderly patients with RA. METHODS:Overall, 160 consecutive cirrhotic patients receiving a TIPS for RA at Hannover Medical School between 2012 and 2018 were considered for this retrospective analysis. Periinterventional complications such as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) as well as survival were compared between patients <65 and ?65 years. Propensity score matching was conducted to match elderly TIPS patients and patients treated with paracentesis. RESULTS:A number of 53 out of the 160 patients were ?65 years (33%). Periinterventional course in those ?65 years appeared to be slightly more complicated than in <65 years as reflected by a significantly longer hospital stay (p = 0.030) and more ACLF-episodes (21% vs. 9%; p = 0.044). 28-day mortality was similar between both groups (p = 0.350), whereas survival of the younger patients was significantly higher at 90 days (p = 0.029) and numerically higher at 1 year (p = 0.171). In the multivariate analysis age ?65 years remained an independent predictor for 90-day mortality (HR: 2.58; p = 0.028), while it was not associated with 28-day and 1-year survival. Importantly, after matching for potential confounders 1-year survival was similar in elderly patients if treated with TIPS or paracentesis (p = 0.419). CONCLUSIONS:TIPS placement in elderly patients with RA appears to be slightly more complicated compared to younger individuals, but overall feasible and at least not inferior to paracentesis.
Project description:BackgroundTreatment of refractory ascites in liver cirrhosis is challenging. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and alfapump® have been proposed for the management, but few data comparing both exist.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and alfapump® for refractory ascites at our centre.MethodsAll consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed for baseline characteristics, efficacy of treatment, complications and survival.ResultsIn total, 19 patients with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and 40 patients with alfapump® were included. Patients with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt had better liver function and less hepatic encephalopathy at baseline. Fifty-eight per cent of patients developed hepatic encephalopathy in the first six months after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. In patients with alfapump®, renal function decreased and 58% developed prerenal impairment and 43% hepatorenal syndrome in the first six months. Alfapump® patients with new catheters required less reinterventions (26% versus 57% with old catheters, p = 0.049). Transplant-free survival at 1 year was 25% in alfapump® and 65% in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Hepatic encephalopathy predicted transplant-free survival in patients with alfapump® (hazard ratio 2.00, 95% confidence interval 0.99-4.02, p = 0.05). In a sensitivity analysis comparing patients with similar liver function, the rate of hepatorenal syndrome and prerenal impairment was higher in patients with alfapump® and these patients were hospitalised more frequently, whereas the rate of hepatic encephalopathy was similar in both treatment groups.ConclusionsBoth transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and alfapump® were effective treatments for refractory ascites in cirrhosis. Patients treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt had a better one-year transplant-free survival but had less negative prognostic factors at baseline. Selecting patients without hepatic encephalopathy prior to implantation of an alfapump® might improve transplant-free survival.
Project description:ObjectivesHepatic hydrothorax (HH) is a predictor of poor survival in cirrhosis patients. However, whether HH increases the mortality risk of cirrhosis patients treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of HH on the survival of cirrhosis patients after TIPS.MethodsCirrhosis patients with portal hypertension complications were selected from a prospective database of consecutive patients treated with TIPS in Xijing Hospital from January 2015 to June 2021. Cirrhosis patients with HH were treated as the experimental group. A control group of cirrhosis patients without HH was created using propensity score matching. Survival after TIPS and the related risk factors were analysed.ResultsThere were 1292 cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension complications treated with TIPS, among whom 255 patients had HH. Compared with patients without HH, patients with HH had worse liver function (MELD, 12 vs. 10, p < 0.001), but no difference in survival after TIPS was observed. After propensity score matching, 243 patients with HH and 243 patients without HH were enrolled. There was no difference in cumulative survival between patients with and without HH. Cox regression analysis showed that HH was not associated with survival after TIPS, and main portal vein thrombosis (> 50%) was a prognostic factor of long-term survival after TIPS in cirrhosis patients (hazard ratio, 1.386; 95% CI, 1.030-1.865, p = 0.031).ConclusionHepatic hydrothorax does not increase the risk of death after TIPS in cirrhosis patients.Key points• Hepatic hydrothorax is a decompensated event of cirrhosis and increases the risk of death. • Hepatic hydrothorax is associated with worse liver function. • Hepatic hydrothorax does not increase the mortality of cirrhosis treated with TIPS.