Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt with polytetrafluoroethylene covered stent

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) covered stent for the treatment of portal hypertension. Methods One hundred and two patients (82 men and 20 women; mean age:53) with portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis underwent TIPS with PTFE covered stent (Fluency stent,Bard Corp).Preoperative symptoms were variceal bleeding (n=83),or refractory ascites (n=19).The number of patients who had Child-Pugh class A,B,and C cirrhosis were 55,41,9,respectively.Additionally,the cumulative patency of shunt with covered stent,the incidence rate of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and survival rate of all patients were calculated at 3,6,12,24,36,48 months after TIPS with the life-table method.Ttest was used for statistics. Results The procedure was successful in all patients.The mean portosystemic pressure of portal vein decreased from 28.5 mm Hg to 18.0 mm Hg (t=22.8,P<0.01).Three patients developed TIPS-related complications (two cases of serious hemoperitoneum and one of infection around covered stent).During the follow-up,shunt restenosis occurred in 10 patients (9.8%),and Key words: Hypertension,portal; Portosystemic shunts,transjugular intrahepatic; Stents; Radiology,interventional