Long-term follow-up of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with stent-graft.

Purpose: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the long-term clinical and patency results after the placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) using stent-graft. Many studies show the clinical results and the patency follow-up of TIPS with stent-graft in the short and medium term. However, few studies show long-term results.

Methods: Between 2002 and 2016, TIPS with stent-grafts were placed in 132 patients. The median age was 59.5 years. The median Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 13, and 71% were Child-Pugh B. Indications for TIPS were bleeding (83%) and ascites or hydrothorax (17%). The technical and clinical success rates were calculated, as were the rates of patency, survival and complications. The median follow-up period was 43 months.

Results: The technical success rate was 98%, and the clinical success rates were 85% in patients with indication for bleeding and 95% in patients with indication for ascites or hydrothorax. Primary patency did not decrease from 66% after 6 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.2%-75.8%) primary assisted patency remained stable at 87% after 6 years (95% CI, 77.2%-96.8%) and secondary patency did not decrease from 98% after 4 years (95% CI, 95.1%-100%). The median overall survival was 42.8 months (95% CI, 33.8-51.8 months). A total of 54 patients suffered some type of complication, minor (28 patients) or major (26 patients), during the follow-up.

Conclusion: The clinical success rate was high. The choice of the maximum initial limit of portosystemic gradient and the diameter of the post-TIPS shunt, together with the number of shunt reductions, are important to be able to compare results between publications. In our study, the patency rates did not decrease after 6 years; hence, long-term follow-up of these patients may not be necessary.