Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the management of complications of portal hypertension – single center experience

Abstract

Background. Portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis or Budd-Chiari syndrome leads to severe and life threatening complications, such as bleeding varicose veins, ascites/hydrothorax and hepatic encephalopathy and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) has been reported to be an effective treatment modality as well as the means to prolong the patient's waiting – time to liver transplantation (LT). Aim. To present single center experience of TIPS efficacy in patients with complications of portal hypertension. Methods. A retrospective analysis of data from 47 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent TIPS procedure in the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Hospital Kaunas Clinics from October 2002 to June 2013 was performed. Results. 47 patients (mean age 53.5±12.8) were included in the study. TIPS controlled variceal bleeding in 96.2% of cases; 87% of patients with refractory ascites and 100% of patients with refractory hydrothorax as well as with Budd-Chiari syndrome achieved partial response without further need of paracenteses or thoracocenteses. [...].