Gloria Hwang
Publication Details
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Bidirectionally adjustable TIPS reduction by parallel stent and stent-graft deployment.
J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2008; (11): 1653-8
Excessive shunting through transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) can cause life-threatening hepatic encephalopathy and insufficiency. Intentional reduction of flow may be effective but difficult to control. The present report describes refinements of the parallel stent/stent-graft technique of flow reduction that is adjustable in either direction. Six patients underwent TIPS reduction with varying stent positioning and a variety of commercial products. Flow was adjusted by iterative balloon dilatation of the stent and stent-graft, resulting in a mean gradient increase of 8 mm Hg. All cases were technically successful, but 1-year survival was seen in only the patient who underwent liver transplantation.
