Doppler ultrasound surveillance of TIPS-patency in the era of covered stents - retrospective analysis of a large single-center cohort.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine accuracy and necessity of long-term Doppler ultrasound (DU) surveillance of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) patency after implantation of an ePTFE-covered stent-graft (Viatorr).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study includes 228 consecutive cirrhotic patients with TIPS implantation due to portal hypertensive complications. Standardized DU surveillance was scheduled 3 - 5 days, 3 months, and 6 months after TIPS implantation and every 6 months thereafter.