Shunting branch of portal vein and stent position predict survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of the shunting branch of the portal vein (PV) (left or right) and the initial stent position (optimal or suboptimal) of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 307 consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS placement for variceal bleeding from March 2001 to July 2010 at our center. The left PV was used in 221 patients and the right PV in the remaining 86 patients.

Prognostic factors in non-malignant and non-cirrhotic patients with portal cavernoma: an 8-year retrospective single-center study.

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of non-malignant and non-cirrhotic patients with portal cavernoma and to determine the predictors for survival.

Methods: Between July 2002 and June 2010, we retrospectively enrolled all consecutive patients admitted to our department with a diagnosis of portal cavernoma without abdominal malignancy or liver cirrhosis. The primary endpoint of this observational study was death and cause of death.

[Early hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: the risk factors and long-time survival].

Objective: To identify the risk factors of early post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and the long-time survival of patients with or without early post-TIPS HE.

Methods: Consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS for variceal rebleeding or refractory ascites in our center from January 2003 to December 2008 were included in this study. More than 60 clinical characteristics were enrolled in univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis to define the risk factors of HE in 3 months after TIPS procedure (early post-TIPS HE).