Ultrasound-guided direct intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome: Short- and long-term results

Background and aimsBudd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) is treated with anticoagulation therapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), angioplasty, and liver transplantation. TIPS is not always technically feasible, due to the complete hepatic venous thrombosis. Direct intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (DIPS) is an alternative method for decompression of portal hypertension. This is a retrospective, single-center study aiming to evaluate the outcome of ultrasound (US)-guided DIPS in patients with BCS.Materials and methodsBetween 2003 and 2016, six patients with BCS were treated with US-guided DIPS. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents were used in two patients and bare-metal stents in four patients. Mean follow-up time was 71.4 months (range: 21–164). Technical/clinical success, technical difficulties, and complications of DIPS were analyzed.ResultsTechnical success without complications was achieved in all patients (100%). In one patient, DIPS was performed through the right femoral vein, w...