Portosystemic shunting procedures for complicated portal hypertension: modern opportunities of mini-invasive technique

Aim. To improve the results of treatment for patients with complicated portal hypertension of cirrhotic genesis using the transjugular intahepatic portosystemic shunt with endovascular obliteration of the inflow pathways to the esophageal-gastric varicose veins.

Material and methods. Transjugular intahepatic portosystemic shunt was performed in 172 patients with gastroesophageal variceal bleeding. The patients were divided into 3 clinical groups. The shunting procedure was applied to 62 patients. Another 110 patients underwent transjugular intahepatic portosystemic shunt and selective obliteration of the esophageal-gastric vein inflow pathways. The short-term and long-term results (up to 140 months), the incidence of thrombosis, recurrent bleeding and mortality, as well as their relationship with the established risk factors for complications were traced.

Results. All patients achieved an effective reduction in the portosystemic pressure gradient and a reduction in the manifestations of portal hypertension. Recurrence of bleeding caused by shunt thrombosis occurred in 23 (13.3%) patients. In clinical group I (n = 62), this complication was noted in 9 (14.5%) patients, in II (n = 54) – 11 (20.4%) cases, in III (n = 56) – only in 3 (5.4%) cases. Bleeding-free survival decreased from 1.0 to 0.82 in 83.9 months, then plateaued. A sharp decrease in the Kaplan–Meier curve from 1.0 to 0.88 was observed within 24.5 months after the intervention. The largest number of deaths was in group I (30.6%), the smallest in group III (7.1%).

Conclusion. Transjugular intahepatic portosystemic shunt supplemented by obliteration the inflows of the esophagealgastric varicose veins provides complete eradication of varicose veins, helps to reduce the frequency of recurrent bleeding and death.

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