scholarly journals Rapid change of liver stiffness after variceal ligation and TIPS implantation

2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (2) ◽  
pp. G179-G187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Piecha ◽  
Daniel Paech ◽  
Janina Sollors ◽  
Helmut-Karl Seitz ◽  
Martin Rössle ◽  
...  

Liver stiffness (LS) as measured by transient elastography is widely used to screen for liver fibrosis. However, LS also increases in response to pressure changes like congestion but no data on portal pressure are available. We study here the effect of rapid portal pressure changes on LS. Therefore, LS was assessed directly prior and after ligation of esophageal varices ( n = 11) as well as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation in patients with established cirrhosis ( n = 14). Additionally, we retrospectively analyzed changes in LS and variceal size in patients with sequential gastroscopic monitoring and LS measurements ( n = 14). To study LS and portal pressure in healthy livers, LS (µFibroscan; Echosens, Paris, France) and invasive pressures (Powerlab, AD Instruments, New Zealand) were assessed in male Wistar rats after ligation of single liver lobes. Ligation of esophageal varices caused an immediate and significant increase of LS from 40.3 ± 19.0 to 56.1 ± 21.5 kPa. Likewise, LS decreased significantly from 53.1 ± 16.6 to 43.8 ± 17.3 kPa after TIPS placement, which correlated significantly with portal pressure ( r = 0.558). In the retrospective cohort, the significant LS decrease from 54.9 ± 23.5 to 47.9 ± 23.8 kPa over a mean observation interval of 4.3 ± 3 mo was significantly correlated with a concomitant increase of variceal size ( r = −0.605). In the animal model, LS and portal pressure increased significantly after single lobe ligation without changes of arterial or central venous pressure. In conclusion, rapid changes of portal pressure are a strong modulator of LS in healthy and cirrhotic organs. In patients with stable cirrhosis according to the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), a decrease of LS may be indicative for enlarging varices. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Liver stiffness (LS) immediately increases after variceal ligation while it decreases after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation due to portal pressure changes. LS and portal pressure rapidly increase after single lobe ligation in Wistar rats without changes of arterial or central venous pressure. Collateral formation may be one cause for a transient decrease in LS in the absence of other confounders. Such pressure changes should be considered when interpreting LS in clinical practice.

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (01) ◽  
pp. 087-096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonel Trebicka

AbstractDoes transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt stent (TIPS) improve survival in a subgroup of patients? Yes. TIPS nearly halves portal pressure and increases the effective blood volume. In cases of acute variceal hemorrhage and with a high risk of treatment failure, defined as either hepatic venous pressure gradient higher than 20 mm Hg, Child B with active bleeding at the endoscopy, or Child C with less than 14 points, early or preemptive placement of TIPS (within 72 hours) improves survival. Also, in suitable patients with intractable or refractory ascites, TIPS improves survival if placed early in the course of treatment. While TIPS does not improve survival in other situations, it improves disease management, especially in patients without TIPS contraindications but with refractory bleeding, early rebleeding, portal vein thrombosis, and hepatorenal syndrome. Experience gained at the centers and follow-up of TIPS patients are key features that improve outcome. Important factors for selection and follow-up include cardiac function, inflammation, sarcopenia, age, and early evaluation for liver transplantation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki R. Franklin ◽  
Layla Q. Simmons ◽  
Anthony L. Baker

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, or TIPS, is a procedure used to decompress the portal system resulting from portal hypertension. The technique was inadvertently discovered during a transjugular cholangiography procedure around 1969. Technological advances in the 1980s and 1990s have resulted in more positive outcomes for the TIPS procedure since its inception. There are several indications for performing the procedure, including refractory ascites, variceal bleeding, and portal hypertension. Liver disease can lead to portal hypertension, and few treatments are available; however, with TIPS, many patients obtain favorable results. The goal of placing an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is to bypass the vascular resistance in the cirrhotic liver by creating a channel between the portal and hepatic veins, thereby reducing portal venous pressure and portal hypertension. Normal and diseased liver function is explained as well as the TIPS procedure process, materials, complications, and long-term outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (02) ◽  
pp. 157-166
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Takuma ◽  
Youichi Morimoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Takabatake ◽  
Junko Tomokuni ◽  
Akiko Sahara ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To assess liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) values measured by virtual touch quantification (VTQ) technique in the monitoring of portal pressure and their usefulness for the prediction of the exacerbation of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with gastric varices undergoing balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO). Materials and Methods The LS, SS, and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) were measured in 20 patients both before and after B-RTO. The change in each parameter between the two groups (EV exacerbation and non-exacerbation groups) was compared by analysis of variance. The efficacy of the parameters for the prediction of the exacerbation of EV was analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results 9 patients (40.9 %) exhibited an exacerbation of EV within 24 months after B-RTO. Significant changes were observed in the HVPG and SS after B-RTO between the two groups (EV exacerbation group vs. non-exacerbation group: HVPG before 12.7 ± 4.4 mmHg vs. 11.0 ± 4.4 mmHg; HVPG after 19.6 ± 6.0 mmHg vs. 13.6 ± 3.1 mmHg P = 0.003; SS before 3.40 ± 0.50 m/s vs. 3.20 ± 0.51 m/s; SS after 3.74 ± 0.53 m/s vs. 3.34 ± 0.43 m/s P = 0.016). However, no significant changes in LS were observed between the two groups. The area under the ROC curves of elevation in HVPG and SS for the prediction of the exacerbation of EV after B-RTO were 0.833 and 0.818, respectively. Conclusion Elevation of the HVPG and SS measured by VTQ after B-RTO was useful for the prediction of the exacerbation of EV.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Buechter ◽  
Paul Manka ◽  
Guido Gerken ◽  
Ali Canbay ◽  
Sandra Blomeyer ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the treatment of choice in decompensated portal hypertension. TIPS revision due to thrombosis or stenosis increases morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to investigate patient- and procedure-associated risk factors for TIPS-revision. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 189 patients who underwent the TIPS procedure. Only patients who required TIPS revision within 1 year (Group I, 34 patients) and patients who did not require re-intervention within the first year (Group II [control group], 54 patients) were included. Results: Out of 88 patients, the majority were male (69.3%) and mean age was 56 ± 11 years. Indications for TIPS were refractory ascites (68%), bleeding (24%), and Budd-Chiari syndrome (8%). The most frequent liver disease was alcohol-induced cirrhosis (60%). Forty-three patients (49%) received bare and 45 patients (51%) covered stents, thus resulting in reduction of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) from 19.0 to 9.0 mm Hg. When comparing patient- and procedure-related factors, the type of stent (p < 0.01) and interventionalist’s experience (number of performed TIPS implantations per year; p < 0.05) were the only factors affecting the risk of re-intervention due to stent dysfunction, while age, gender, indication, Child-Pugh, and model of end-stage liver disease score, platelet count, pre- and post-HVPG, additional variceal embolization, stent diameter, and number of stents did not significantly differ. Conclusion: Patients undergoing TIPS procedure should be surveilled closely for shunt dysfunction while covered stents and high-level experience are associated with increased ­patency.


2020 ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
Jenna Koblinski ◽  
Margaret C. Liu ◽  
Roy U. Bisht ◽  
Paul Kang ◽  
Mark Wong ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used for decompression of elevated portal pressure; however, there are potential complications. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of complications of TIPS in those who had an episode of infection within 6 months prior to TIPS to those without an infection prior. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent TIPS at a single transplant centre over 8 years. They were divided into two groups: patients without infection during the 6 months prior to TIPS (n=349) and those with an infection prior (bacterial/fungal) (n=53). The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare continuous variables while chi-squared analysis and Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to ascertain the association between pre-TIPS infection status and likelihood of post-TIPS infection. Results: In the group of patients who had an infection before TIPS, 26.4% (n=14) had an episode of infection after the procedure, while in the group without infection prior, 16.2% (n=55) had an infection after the procedure (p=0.047; odds ratio: 2.08). In the pre-TIPS infection group, 54.7% (n=29) had an episode of portosystemic encephalopathy post-TIPS versus 39.6% (n=134) in the group without infection before TIPS (p=0.046; odds ratio: 1.93). Conclusion: Pre-TIPS infection within 6 months of TIPS procedure is a risk factor for post-TIPS portosystemic encephalopathy and infection. Further studies are needed to determine the potential benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients who had an infection in the 6 months preceding TIPS placement.


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