Temporary pacemaker protected transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a patient with acute variceal bleeding and bradyarrhythmia: A case report

BACKGROUND: Esophagogastric varices are a common complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension and endoscopic treatment has been recognized as a primary preventive and therapeutic option for such patients; however, it should be noted that bradyarrhythmia is regarded as one of the contraindications to endoscopic examination. Meanwhile, acute variceal bleeding may result in a high mortality rate in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension accompanied by bradyarrhythmia. At present, there is an absence of reports concerning the treatment of such group of patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The present report details the case of a cirrhotic patient with acute variceal bleeding accompanied by bradyarrhythmia who underwent TIPS under temporary pacemaker protection. CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 64-year-old male patient who was confirmed with bradyarrhythmia by ambulatory electrocardiogram 24 h before the operation. The patient was successfully treated by TIPS under temporary pacemaker protection. CONCLUSION: In terms of cirrhotic patients with abnormal cardiac electrophysiological conduction, TIPS may be effective in reducing the complications of portal hypertension following the exclusion of severe pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, showing moderate feasibility in clinical applications.