Effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension: Case series

RATIONALE: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is well established as an effective treatment tool for portal hypertension. However, the effects of TIPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension have not been adequately verified in clinical trials. PATIENT CONCERNS: To evaluate the effects of TIPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension with or without portal vein thrombosis (PVT). INTERVENTIONS: A total of 55 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension received TIPS treatment from December 2014 to April 2018 were enrolled. Clinical data, including portal pressure, Child-Pugh score, and relevant complications were recorded. OUTCOMES: TIPS was successfully performed in 54 patients. The overall technical success rate was 98.19% without serious technical complications. After TIPS treatment, portal pressure was significantly reduced from 38.13 ± 4.00 cmH(2)O to 24.14 ± 3.84 cmH(2)O (P < 0.05). In addition, symptoms including gastrointestinal bleeding and ascites were improved after TIPS treatment. During the 6 to 21-month follow up, hepatic encephalopathy in 15 patients (27.8%), shunt dysfunction in 5 patients (9.3%), rebleeding in 12 patients (22.2%) and deterioration of liver function in 2 patients (3.7%) were recorded. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the rates of rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy between patients with PVT and the non-PVT group, whereas the occurrence rate of TIPS dysfunction was higher in the PVT group, but not statistically significant. LESSONS: TIPS treatment could alleviate the symptoms of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension in individuals with or without PVT. However, complications during follow-up should be appropriately noted and addressed with corresponding treatments.