Incrementally Expandable Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts: Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of a small-diameter expandable transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management of portal hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This single-center retrospective study included 28 patients (12 women and 16 men; mean age, 56.9 years) who underwent small-diameter expandable TIPS creation between 2008 and 2010 for refractory ascites (n = 15; mean [± SD] model for end-stage liver disease [MELD] score, 15.5 ± 5.3) or gastrointestinal variceal bleeding (n = 13; mean MELD score, 15.2 ± 8.4). An expandable TIPS was created by deploying a covered stent inside a balloon expandable stent. For patients with recurrent symptoms, TIPS adjustment was made by balloon expandable stent balloon dilation. The TIPS diameter was defined as the diameter of the final angioplasty balloon. TIPS patency and efficacy and the rate of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy were evaluated. RESULTS. The median diameter of the initial TI...