Utility of Doppler ultrasonography for predicting improvement of platelet count after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Objective: Portal pressure gradient (PPG) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) <12 mmHg has been reported as the only factor predictive of increase in platelet count. As flow velocities measured on Doppler ultrasound are related to pressure gradient based on the Bernoulli equation, we used this parameter to predict increased platelet count after TIPS placement.

Methods: A total of 161 consecutive patients who underwent TIPS placement entered this retrospective study.