Unique Method of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Reduction for Refractory Hepatic Encephalopathy

Abstract

We report the case of a 27-year-old female patient with a history of cryptogenic cirrhosis who was admitted to the hospital due to multiple episodes of hematemesis secondary to bleeding esophageal varices. The varices were persistent and refractory to endoscopic intervention, so an emergent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was performed by interventional radiology (IR). Months later, the patient returned to the hospital unresponsive with acute intermittent hepatic encephalopathy which required a TIPS reduction by IR. Once the TIPS reduction was performed, the patient's hepatic encephalopathy declined, and her symptoms improved. Here, we present a unique method of TIPS reduction utilizing a single Viabahn VBX balloon-expandable stent (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc; Flagstaff, AZ) to constrain the existing TIPS stent.

Keywords: decompensated cirrhosis; esophageal varices; gastric variceal bleeding; hepatic encephalopathy; portal hypertension; refractory gastrointestinal bleed; shunt reduction; tips; tips reduction; transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.