Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for Budd-Chiari syndrome: techniques, indications and results on 51 Chinese patients from a single centre.
BACKGROUND & AIMS
In Western countries, transjugular intrahepatic portosytemic shunt (TIPS) is widely applied for the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). However, the outcome of Chinese BCS patients treated with TIPS is extremely limited. Furthermore, the timing of conversion from percutaneous recanalization to TIPS remains uncertain.


METHODS
All consecutive BCS patients treated with TIPS between December 2004 and June 2012 were included. Patients were classified as the early and converted TIPS groups. Indications, TIPS-related complications, post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy, shunt dysfunction and death were reported.


RESULTS
Of 51 patients included, 39 underwent percutaneous recanalization for 1024 days (0-4574) before TIPS. Early TIPS group (n = 19) has a shorter history of BCS and a lower proportion of prior percutaneous recanalization than converted TIPS group (n = 32). Main indications were diffuse obstruction of three HVs (n = 12), liver failure (n = 2), liver function deterioration (n = 8), refractory ascites (n = 10) and variceal bleeding (n = 19). Procedure-related intraperitoneal bleeding was reversible in three patients. The cumulative 1-year rate of being free of first episode of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy and shunt dysfunction was 78.38 and 61.69% respectively. The cumulative 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 83.82, 81.20 and 76.93% respectively. BCS-TIPS score, but not Child-Pugh, MELD, Clichy or Rotterdam score, could predict the survival. Age, total bilirubin and inferior vena cava thrombosis were also significantly associated with overall survival. Survival was similar between early and converted TIPS groups.


CONCLUSIONS
TIPS can achieve an excellent survival in Chinese patients in whom percutaneous recanalization is ineffective or inappropriate. BCS-TIPS score could effectively predict these patients' survival.
['Qi|Xingshun|X|', 'Guo|Wengang|W|', 'He|Chuangye|C|', 'Zhang|Wei|W|', 'Wu|Feifei|F|', 'Yin|Zhanxin|Z|', 'Bai|Ming|M|', 'Niu|Jing|J|', 'Yang|Zhiping|Z|', 'Fan|Daiming|D|', 'Han|Guohong|G|']
D044466:Asians D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy D006801:Humans D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic D012189:Retrospective Studies D016019:Survival Analysis D016896:Treatment Outcome
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt Budd-Chiari syndrome treatment prognosis