Aim: Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic porta-systemic shunt (TIPS) is a therapeutic option for the management of bleeding esophageal varices. However, the procedure is associated with an increased risk of portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE). In this study, a two-stage modification of the standard TIPS technique was introduced for the management of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients with a high risk of PSE before liver transplantation.
Methods: The modified procedure was applied to four patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and ascites. Two had a history of encephalopathy after variceal bleeding; the other two were encephalopathic at the time of the first stage of the modified procedure. In the first stage, a 6-mm diameter intrahepatic shunt was created using a Palmaz-Schatz stent. One month later, in the second stage, the lumen of the shunt was expanded to a diameter of 10 mm.
Results: Both stages of this TIPS procedure were undertaken without any associated adverse events. In particular, neither stage was followed by a deterioration of neurologic status. From completion of the second stage to undertaking orthotopic liver transplantation (a period of 2 to 6 months), no rebleeding from esophageal varices occurred.
Conclusions: A two-stage TIPS procedure to reduce portal hypertension enables a more gradual adaptation to post-TIPS hemodynamic and metabolic changes than occurs after creation of a conventional TIPS. A two-stage TIPS procedure may be the method of choice for treating bleeding from esophageal varices in patients who have a high risk of developing PSE and give them a chance for liver transplantation.