Clinical Value of Ultrasound in Evaluating Stent Placement for Managing Graft Stenosis after Meso-rex Bypass / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the feasibility of using ultrasound to evaluate stent placement for managing graft stenosis after Meso-rex bypass for cavernous transformation of the portal vein in adults. Methods This study enrolled the patients who underwent Meso-rex bypass due to cavernous transformation of the portal vein,were diagnosed graft stenosis by postoperative ultrasound,and then underwent percutaneous portal vein puncture portography and stent placement.We then compared the ultrasonic measurement indicators and sonographic manifestations before and after stent placement,and evaluated the alleviation of portal hypertension symptoms after stent placement and related clinical indexes. Results Finally,8 patients were enrolled in this study,including 5 males and 3 females,with an average age of(32.4±14.7)years.The median duration of follow-up was 26 months after stent placement.The mean diameter of graft stenosis was(2.74±0.23)mm after Meso-rex bypass and became wider[(7.23±0.68)mm]after stent placement(

Refractory Hepatic Hydrothorax in Chronic Hepatitis C Controlled by Direct-acting Antivirals / 대한소화기학회지

Hepatic hydrothorax is a transudative pleural effusion that complicates advanced liver cirrhosis. Patients refractory to medical treatment plus salt restriction and diuretics are considered to have refractory hepatic hydrothorax and may require transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or liver transplant. Successful antiviral therapy reduces the incidence of some complications of cirrhosis secondary to HCV infection. We report a case of hepatic hydrothorax in a 55-year-old female patient with HCV cirrhosis, which exhibited a spontaneous decrease in pleural effusion after direct antiviral agent (DAA) therapy. In cases of HCV cirrhosis, DAAs are worth administering before treatment by TIPS or liver transplantation.

Ultrasonography and portography in the diagnosis of shunt portoazigos in a dog: case report / Ultrassonografia e portografia no diagnóstico de shunt portoázigos em um cão: relato de caso

Portosystemic shunt (PSS) is an anomalous vascular connection between the portal venous system and the systemic circulation. These deviations connect the main portal vein (PV) or some portal branches to the vena cava (VC) or, less commonly, to the azygos vein (AV). The purpose of this case report was to describe the diagnosis of PSS in a dog classified as porto-azygos. This diagnosis is considered uncommon compared to other portosystemic shunts using ultrasonography and portography. The subject was a male dog, Yorkshire, 8 months old, presented neurological signs characterized by head press, ataxia, tremors and episodes of temporary blindness and deafness. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a dilated and curved anomalous vessel with approximately 0.6cm of diameter and turbulent flow seen through pulsed and color Doppler, and segmental dilation of the azygos vein. The portography revealed enhancement by iodinated contrast in the jejunal vein, the portal vein and an anomalous vessel flowing towards the azygos vein in the craniodorsal region of the abdomen. The PSS was surgically corrected with an ameroid constrictor. Ultrasonography and portography were effective at detecting and characterizing the portoazygos shunt despite some limitations.(AU)

Shunt portossistêmico (SPS) é uma comunicação vascular anômala entre o sistema venoso portal e a circulação sistêmica. Esses desvios comunicam a VP ou alguma de suas tributárias à veia cava ou, menos comumente, à veia ázigos (VA). O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever o diagnóstico, por meio de ultrassonografia e portografia, de um caso de shunt extra-hepático em cão, classificado como portoázigos e considerado incomum quando comparado aos demais tipos de desvio portossistêmico. Um cão, macho, raça Yorkshire, oito meses de idade, chegou ao Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais apresentando sinais neurológicos, caracterizados por andar apoiando a cabeça na parede, ataxia, tremores, episódios de cegueira e surdez. Ao exame ultrassonográfico, observou-se vaso anômalo calibroso e tortuoso de aproximadamente 0,6cm de diâmetro e fluxo turbulento ao Doppler pulsado e colorido, bem como dilatação segmentar da VA. A portografia revelou realce de contraste iodado em veia jejunal, porta e vaso anômalo (shunt) seguindo em direção à VA em região dorsal do abdômen. Foi realizada a correção cirúrgica do SPS por meio de anel ameroide. A ultrassonografia e a portografia foram eficientes na detecção e caracterização do shunt portoázigos, mesmo que com algumas limitações.(AU)

Acquired Hepatocerebral Degeneration in the Absence of Portosystemic Shunting

No abstract available.

Congenital portal vein aplasia with portocaval shunting in two dogs / 대한수의학회지

Two dogs presented with vomiting and head pressing. In both dogs, a large vessel was revealed in computed tomography (CT) angiography, which was found to leave the portal vein (PV) cranial to the splenomesenteric confluence and enter the pre-hepatic caudal vena cava cranial to the right renal vein. The flow of portal blood to the liver was not identified. Based on CT angiography, the dogs were suspected to have congenital PV aplasia with portocaval shunting. Diagnostic imaging of potential malformations for PV continuation should be conducted before attempting shunt closure.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt assisted with trans-splenic access

No abstract available.

Endoscopic Therapy and Radiologic Intervention of Acute Gastroesophageal Variceal Bleeding

Acute gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage is a dreaded complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Endoscopic therapy and radiologic intervention for gastroesophageal bleeding have rapidly developed in the recent decades. Endoscopic treatment is initially performed to stop variceal hemorrhage. For the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding, endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is considered the endoscopic treatment of choice. In cases of gastric variceal hemorrhage, the type of gastric varices (GVs) is important in deciding the strategy of endoscopic treatment. Endoscopic variceal obturation (EVO) is recommended for fundal variceal bleeding. For the management of gastroesophageal varix type 1 bleeding, both EVO and EVL are available treatment options; however, EVO is preferred over EVL. If endoscopic management fails to control variceal hemorrhage, radiologic interventional modalities could be considered. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is a good option for rescue treatment in refractory variceal bleeding. In cases of refractory hemorrhage of GVs in patients with a gastrorenal shunt, balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration could be considered as a salvage treatment.

Portal pressure gradient and serum albumin: A simple combined parameter associated with the appearance of ascites in decompensated cirrhosis treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In recent years, greater assessment accuracy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to ascertain prognosis has become important in decompensated cirrhosis due to portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the ratio of the portal pressure gradient (PPG) pre-TIPS (pre-PPG) to albumin (PPA), which influence ascites formation in cirrhotic patients in the 6-months after TIPS placement, and is a metric introduced in our study. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 58 patients with decompensated cirrhosis admitted to an academic hospital for the purpose of TIPS placement. We collected the following data: demographics, laboratory measures, and PPG during the TIPS procedure. Then we analyzed the association between the above data and ascites formation post-TIPS in cirrhosis patients. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with ascites and 28 without ascites were evaluated. Univariate and binary logistic regression analysis were adjusted for the following variables: to determine prognosis; Child-Pugh scores, lymphocyte count, platelet count, hemoglobin level, albumin level and pre-PPG or PPA. The outcome showed that PPA was better than pre-PPG and albumin for predicting ascites according to area under receiver operating characteristic curves and a statistical model that also showed PPA’s influence 6-months post-TIPS. CONCLUSIONS: The combined measurement of pre-PPG and albumin, defined as PPA, may provide a better way to predict post-TIPS ascites in decompensated cirrhosis, which underlines the need for a large clinical trial in the future.

Endovascular Closure Resolves Trimethylaminuria Caused by Congenital Portosystemic Shunts / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

This study aimed to report three new cases of an association between two rare conditions, congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) and trimethylaminuria (TMAU), and the efficacy of endovascular closure of the CPSS for resolving TMAU. Between November 2014 and April 2017, 15 patients with CPSS were enrolled in this prospective study to assess the efficacy of percutaneous endovascular shunt closure. Three patients presented with clinical symptoms of TMAU that were confirmed by urine analysis of trimethylamine (TMA) and TMA n-oxide. One year after endovascular closure of the congenital portosystemic shunt, the same parameters were evaluated were obtained and the values were compared to the pretreatment values. The results indicated the disappearance of clinical symptoms of TMAU and normalization of the urine test parameters in two patients and no changes in one patient, who developed new portosystemic communications.

Ascites / 대한소화기학회지

Ascites is the most common cause of decompensation in cirrhosis, and 5% to 10% of patients with compensated cirrhosis develop ascites each year. The main factor of ascites formation is renal sodium retention due to activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system by the reduced effective volume secondary to splanchnic arterial vasodilation. Diagnostic paracentesis is indicated in all patients with a new onset of grade 2 or 3 ascites and in those admitted to hospital for any complication of cirrhosis. A serum-ascites albumin gradient of ≥1.1 g/dL indicates portal hypertension with an accuracy of approximately 97%. Sodium restriction, diuretics, and large volume paracentesis are the mainstay of treatment in grade 1 to 3 ascites. The refractoriness of ascites is associated with a poor prognosis with a median survival of approximately six months. Repeated large volume paracentesis plus albumin is the first line treatment, and liver transplantation is recommended in patients with refractory ascites. A careful selection of patients is also important to obtain the beneficial effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in refractory ascites. This review details the recent diagnosis and treatment of cirrhotic ascites.

A review of recent experience with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation using intravascular ultrasound

Portal vein access has historically been the most technically challenging step in the creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPSs). The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for guidance of portal vein access during TIPS creation has garnered much interest in recent years. Recent literature has suggested potential improvements in procedural metrics that may result from use of IVUS for TIPS. This review aims to provide historical context, detail technical advances and describe recent clinical experience with the use of IVUS for TIPS creation.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt trends in China: A brief review

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is now considered as a major treatment option for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Globally, it is getting markedly increase attention, and a similar phenomenon is occurring in China. On average, the number of TIPS procedures is increasing at a rate of 15% per year. Published research papers are also continuously growing every year. Similar but unique compared to western countries, most Chinese physicians follow Chinese specialized guidelines when treating patients with portal hypertension. In this review, we briefly introduce the history of TIPS in China, the present and the future of TIPS in China.

A new and improved transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stent graft: Controlled expansion

Initial underdilation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stents has been a widely proposed and commonly practiced technique to balance portal hypertension relief and the adverse effects associated with excess shunting, especially hepatic encephalopathy. However, this technique has been scrutinized by a number of studies which have shown that underdilated TIPS stents tend to passively expand with time. The recently launched GORE® VIATORR® TIPS Endoprosthesis with Controlled Expansion (VIATORR CX®) may address this problem with its novel diameter control capabilities. This article reviews literature concerning passive expansion of initially underdilated TIPS stents and explores preliminary data investigating the use and efficacy of the VIATORR CX® endoprosthesis.

Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration versus Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for the Management of Gastric Variceal Bleeding

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric varices (GVs) are a major cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. The current treatments of choice are balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). We aimed to compare the efficacy and outcomes of these two methods for the management of GV bleeding. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who received BRTO (n=157) or TIPS (n=19) to control GV bleeding from January 2005 to December 2014 at a single tertiary hospital in Korea. The overall survival (OS), immediate bleeding control rate, rebleeding rate and complication rate were compared between patients in the BRTO and TIPS groups. RESULTS: Patients in the BRTO group showed higher immediate bleeding control rates (p=0.059, odds ratio [OR]=4.72) and lower cumulative rebleeding rates (log-rank p=0.060) than those in the TIPS group, although the difference failed to reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the rates of complications, including pleural effusion, aggravation of esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and portosystemic encephalopathy, although the rate of the progression of ascites was significantly higher in the BRTO group (p=0.02, OR=7.93). After adjusting for several confounding factors using a multivariate Cox analysis, the BRTO group had a significantly longer OS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.44, p=0.01) and a longer rebleeding-free survival (aHR=0.34, p=0.001) than the TIPS group. CONCLUSIONS: BRTO provides better bleeding control, rebleeding-free survival, and OS than TIPS for patients with GV bleeding.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Portal Pressure Measurement and Interventions

A growing number of studies have explored endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided vascular catheterization. Potential clinical applications of EUS-guided portal venous access include angiography, measurement of the portosystemic pressure gradient, EUS-guided transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation and portal vein sampling for the evaluation in gastrointestinal cancer. The following article reviews the different devices and techniques employed in these applications.

Plug-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration for the Treatment of Gastric Varices: The Role of Intra-Procedural Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the technical and clinical outcomes of plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (PARTO) for the treatment of gastric varices (GV) and to evaluate the role of intra-procedural cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) performed during PARTO to confirm its technical success. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2016, 17 patients with GV who had undergone PARTO were retrospectively evaluated. When the proximal part of the afferent vein was identified on a fluoroscopy, non-contrast CBCT images were obtained. In patients with incomplete embolization of GV, an additional injection of gelatin sponges was performed. Follow-up data from contrast-enhanced CT and upper intestinal endoscopy, as well as clinical and laboratory data were collected. RESULTS: Plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration procedures were technically successful in all 17 patients. Complete embolization of GV was detected on CBCT images in 15 patients; whereas, incomplete embolization was detected in two. Complete embolization of GV was then achieved after an additional injection of gelatin sponges in these two patients as demonstrated on the 2nd CBCT image. The mean follow-up period after PARTO was 193 days (range, 73–383 days). A follow-up CT obtained 2–4 months after PARTO demonstrated marked shrinkage or complete obliteration of GV and portosystemic shunts in all 17 patients. There were no cases of variceal bleeding during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration is technically and clinically effective for the treatment of GV. In addition, intra-procedural CBCT can be an adjunct tool to fluoroscopy, because it can provide an immediate and accurate evaluation of the technical success of PARTO.

Successful Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt with Embolization Subsequent to Endoscopic Variceal Band Ligation for Bleeding Anorectal Varices / 대한소화기학회지

Anorectal variceal bleeding is a rare occurrence; however, in such event, it could be fatal due to large size and high blood flow rate of varices. However, to date, there is no standardized treatment modality. Although endoscopic treatment can be provided, in cases of recurrent anorectal variceal bleeding, other therapeutic modalities for hemostasis are necessary. Here, we present a case of 58-year-old female patient with liver cirrhosis, who suffered from massive bleeding of anorectal varices. Endoscopic variceal band ligation was performed for primary hemostasis. Additionally, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with embolization was performed to reduce the risk of rebleeding. Following the procedure, she had no further bleeding episodes, and the size of anorectal varices decreased, as seen on an abdomino-pelvic computed tomography. Our case illustrates the effectiveness of combined radiological intervention of TIPS with embolization after endoscopic hemostasis, for variceal obliteration and prevention of rebleeding.

Imaging diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction with acquired portosystemic shunt in a cat / 대한수의학회지

A 2-year-old, spayed female, Korean domestic short-hair cat was presented with depression and vomiting. The patient had history of weight loss lasting seven months. Physical examination revealed icterus in the pinna, oral mucosa, and sclera. Based on ultrasonography and computed tomography, tentative diagnosis was extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction with acquired portosystemic shunt (PSS). Tumor or inflammation of hepatobiliary system was suspected as the cause of obstruction of the common bile duct. But it could not be determined without biopsy. The severely dilated cystic duct was considered to cause portal hypertension and secondary multiple PSS. The patient expired without histopathologic examination.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation for portal hypertension in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for the management of portal hypertension in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A literature search of the MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase databases was conducted. All articles reporting the outcomes of TIPS creation for variceal bleeding and refractory ascites and hepatic hydrothorax in patients with HCC were included. Exclusion criteria were non-English language, sample size < 5, data not extractable, and data reported in another article. RESULTS: A total of 280 patients (mean age, 48–58; male gender, 66%) from five articles were included. TIPS creation was performed for variceal bleeding in 79% and refractory ascites and/or hepatic hydrothorax in 26% of patients. Technical and clinical success was achieved in 99% and 64% of patients, respectively. Clinical failure occurred in 36% of patients due to rebleeding or recurrent bleeding (n = 77) or no resolution or improvement of refractory ascites and hepatic hydrothorax (n = 24). One percent of patient had major complications, including accelerated liver failure (n = 1) and multi-organ failure resulting from hemorrhagic shock (n = 1), all of which resulted in early (i.e., within 30 days) death. Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 40% of patients after TIPS creation. Lung metastasis was found 1% of patient 5 months (n = 1) and 72 months (n = 1) after TIPS creation. CONCLUSION: TIPS creation seems to be safe and effective for the management of portal hypertension in patients with HCC.

Recurrent Hyperammonemia After Abernethy Malformation Type 2 Closure: a Case Report

ABSTRACT The Abernethy malformation is a rare congenital malformation defined by the presence of an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Although most patients are asymptomatic, clinical encephalopathy is present in 15% of cases. We present a patient with type 2 Abernethy malformation, hyperammonemia, and encephalopathy. Shunt closure was performed successfully using interventional angiography; however, hyperammonemia recurred 3 months later. The diagnosis of Abernethy malformation can be made easily, but the ideal patient management strategy has not yet been established. This is the first reported patient with recurrence of hyperammonemia after interventional treatment; we discuss the therapeutic options for Abernethy malformation.(AU)