Published online Jul 18, 2016. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v8.i20.850
Peer-review started: March 28, 2016
First decision: April 19, 2016
Revised: May 5, 2016
Accepted: May 31, 2016
Article in press: June 2, 2016
Published online: July 18, 2016
Processing time: 107 Days and 15.7 Hours
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with stomach and esophageal variceal embolization (SEVE) in cirrhotic patients with a large gastrorenal vessel shunt (GRVS).
METHODS: Eighty-one cirrhotic patients with gastric variceal bleeding (GVB) associated with a GRVS were enrolled in the study and accepted TIPS combined with SEVE (TIPS + SEVE), by which portosystemic pressure gradient (PPG), biochemical, TIPS-related complications, shunt dysfunction, rebleeding, and death were evaluated.
RESULTS: The PPGs before TIPS were greater than 12 mmHg in 81 patients. TIPS + SEVE treatment caused a significant decrease in PPG (from 37.97 ± 6.36 mmHg to 28.15 ± 6.52 mmHg, t = 19.22, P < 0.001). The percentage of reduction in PPG was greater than 20% from baseline. There were no significant differences in albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, prothrombin time, or Child-Pugh score before and after operation. In all patients, rebleeding rates were 3%, 6%, 12%, 18%, and 18% at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 mo, respectively. Five patients (6.2%) were diagnosed as having hepatic encephalopathy. The rates of shunt dysfunction were 0%, 4%, 9%, 26%, and 26%, at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 mo, respectively. The cumulative survival rates in 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 mo were 100%, 100%, 95%, 90%, and 90%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results indicated that the efficacy and safety of TIPS + SEVE were satisfactory in cirrhotic patients with GVB associated with a GRVS (GVB + GRVS).
Core tip: The optimal treatment of gastric variceal bleeding (GVB) + gastrorenal vessel shunt (GRVS) remains uncertain. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) alone cannot be widely used in the treatment of GVB + GRVS. Some studies have evaluated the short-term outcomes of cirrhosis treated with TIPS combined with variceal embolization. In this study, we found that the efficacy and safety of TIPS + stomach and esophageal variceal embolization were satisfactory for patients with GVB + GRVS.