Safety and efficacy of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in children with acute or recurring upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is effective for treating complications of portal hypertension in cirrhotic adults but the experience in children is limited.

Objective: To retrospectively review the safety and efficacy of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered TIPS in children with acute or recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of children who received implants of 10-mm-diameter PTFE-covered endoprostheses for acute or recurring upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by medically or endoscopically uncontrollable varices.