Risk assessment of first upper gastrointestinal bleeding using computerized tomoscanning in esophageal varices patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

To evaluate the risk of first upper gastrointestinal bleeding by computerized tomoscanning (CT) for esophageal varices patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.One hundred thirty two esophageal varices patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who are also complicated with gastrointestinal bleeding were recruited as bleeding group, while another 132 patients without bleeding as non-bleeding group. The diameter of esophageal varices, number of vascular sections, and total area of blood vessels were measured by CT scanning. The sensitivity and specificity of these indicators were calculated, and Youden index was adjusted with the critical point.The diameter of esophageal varices was 7.83 ±â€Š2.76 mm in bleeding group, and 6.57 ±â€Š3.42 mm in non-bleeding group. The Youden index was 0.32 with the critical point 5.55 mm. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) was 0.72. The number of venous vessels was 4.5 ±â€Š2 in bleeding group, whereas being 4 ±â€Š2 in non-bleeding group. The Youden index was 0.35 with a critical point 4, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.68. The blood vessel area was 1.73 ±â€Š1.15 cm in bleeding group, and 1.12 ±â€Š0.89 cm in non-bleeding group. The Youden index was 0.48 with the critical point being 1.03 cm, and corresponding AUC was 0.82.Among all 3 indicators of the total area, diameter, and number of sections of the esophageal varices, the total area of esophageal varices showed more accuracy as a potential and novel indicator for bleeding prediction.

Prospective cost analysis of early video capsule endoscopy versus standard of care in non-hematemesis gastrointestinal bleeding: a non-inferiority study.

Background and aim: A non-inferiority cost analysis was performed to assess if the early capsule approach would incur higher costs than the standard of care approach in patients presenting with non-hematemesis gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods: A prospective non-inferiority cost analysis was performed on patients receiving either an early video capsule as the first diagnostic procedure or an endoscopic procedure as determined by gastroenterology staff that were not involved in the study. Primary outcome was total direct costs incurred in both groups.Results: Forty-five patients and 42 patients were enrolled into the early capsule and standard of care arms, respectively. There was no difference in total direct cost per inpatient case in both groups ($7,362 vs $7,148, p = 0.77 [CI = -2,285-2,315, equivalent margin = -$3,100]). Localization of a bleeding source after the first diagnostic procedure was identified more frequently in the early capsule group (69.2% vs 27.9%, p = 0.0003). If patients were discharged after their last non-diagnostic evaluation, then length of stay could be decreased by 50% in both groups (58.5 to 31.6 h, p = 0.02 in the early capsule group and 69.4 to 39.2 h in the standard of care group p = 0.001). Projections indicate the fastest a patient with non-diagnostic evaluations could be discharged is 0.88 days in the early capsule group vs 1.63 days in the standard of care group (p = 0.0005).Discussion: In patients with non-hematemesis bleeding, video capsule endoscopy may be a more efficient diagnostic approach than the standard of care approach, since it detects bleeding significantly more often without an increase in healthcare costs.

Multicenter Retrospective Risk Assessment of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding in Patients with Cirrhosis: An Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography-Based Prediction Model.

Background/Aims: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography predicts the presence of esophageal varices (EVs). We investigated whether an ARFI-based prediction model can assess EV bleeding (EVB) risk in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: The records of 262 patients with cirrhosis who underwent ARFI elastography and endoscopic surveillance at two institutions in 2008 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed, and ARFI-spleen diameter-to-platelet ratio scores (ASPS) were calculated. Results: The median patient age (165 men, 97 women) was 56 years. The median ARFI velocity, spleen diameter, platelet count, and ASPS were 1.7 m/sec, 10.1 cm, 145×109/L, and 1.16, respectively. During the median 38-month follow-up, 61 patients experienced EVB. Among all patients (179 without EVs and 83 with EVs), the cutoff value that maximized the sum of the sensitivity (73.1%) and specificity (78.4%) (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.824) for predicting EVB was 2.60. The cumulative EVB incidence was significantly higher in patients with ASPS ≥2.60 than in those with ASPS <2.60 (p<0.001). Among patients with EVs (n=83), 49 had high-risk EVs (HEVs), and 22 had EVB. The cumulative EVB incidence was significantly higher in HEV patients than in low-risk EV patients (p=0.037). At an ASPS of 4.50 (sensitivity, 66.7%; specificity, 70.6%; AUROC, 0.691), the cumulative EVB incidence was significantly higher in patients with a high ASPS than in those with a low ASPS (p=0.045). A higher ASPS independently predicted EVB (hazard ratio, 4.072; p=0.047). Conclusions: ASPS can assess EVB risk in patients with cirrhosis. Prophylactic management should be considered for patients with HEVs and ASPS ≥4.50.

Radiologic Assessment of Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding represents a broad differential of disease throughout the GI tract. The proper diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with symptoms of GI bleeding depends on the overall clinical acuity and suspected source locations. The radiologic assessment of these patients is centered around computed tomography (CT) angiography, CT enterography, conventional angiography, and nuclear scintigraphy.

Endoscopic Cyanoacrylate Injection with Post-injection Audible Doppler Assessment of Gastric Varices: A Single-Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gastric varices (GV) have higher rates of morbidity and mortality from hemorrhage than esophageal varices. Several studies have shown the safety and efficacy of cyanoacrylate (CA) injection for acute gastric variceal hemorrhage. We report data from our experience with CA injection for GV before and after routine use of post-injection audible Doppler assessment (ADA) for GV obturation and describe long-term outcomes after this therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who had documented GV, underwent CA injection, and had at least 2 weeks of follow-up. We recorded and analyzed the survival and rebleeding rates with patient demographics, clinical data, and endoscopy findings between two groups of patients who were categorized by CA injection prior to and after inception of the ADA technique. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were identified with 16 patients analyzed in a group where ADA was not used (Pre-ADA) and 55 analyzed where ADA was used (Post-ADA). No rebleeding events were observed within 1 week of initial CA injection. No embolic events were reported after any initial CA injection within 4 weeks. The rate of bleed-free survival at 1 year was 69.6% in the Pre-ADA group and 85.8% in the Post-ADA without statistical significance. The all-cause 1-year mortality was 13.8% in the Pre-ADA group and 10.7% in the Post-ADA group without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: ADA of CA-injected GV does not appear to significantly affect adverse events or clinical outcomes; however, our findings are limited by small sample size and cohort proportions allowing for significant type II statistical error. Further prospective investigation is required to determine the impact of ADA on clinical outcomes after GV obturation.

Assessment of multi-modality evaluations of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

AIM: To determine the frequency of bleeding source detection in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) who underwent double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) after pre-procedure imaging [multiphase computed tomography enterography (MPCTE), video capsule endoscopy (VCE), or both] and assess the impact of imaging on DBE diagnostic yield. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using a prospectively maintained database of all adult patients presenting with OGIB who underwent DBE from September 1st, 2002 to June 30th, 2013 at a single tertiary center. RESULTS: Four hundred and ninety five patients (52% females; median age 68 years) underwent DBE for OGIB. AVCE and/or MPCTE performed within 1 year prior to DBE (in 441 patients) increased the diagnostic yield of DBE (67.1% with preceding imaging vs 59.5% without). Using DBE as the gold standard, VCE and MPCTE had a diagnostic yield of 72.7% and 32.5% respectively. There were no increased odds of finding a bleeding site at DBE compared to VCE (OR = 1.3, P = 0.150). There were increased odds of finding a bleeding site at DBE compared to MPCTE (OR = 5.9, P < 0.001). In inpatients with overt OGIB, diagnostic yield of DBE was not affected by preceding imaging. CONCLUSION: DBE is a safe and well-tolerated procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of OGIB, with a diagnostic yield that may be increased after obtaining a preceding VCE or MPCTE. However, inpatients with active ongoing bleeding may benefit from proceeding directly to antegrade DBE.

Urgent colonoscopy in patients with lower GI bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lower GI bleeding (LGIB) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Colonoscopy is indicated in all hospitalized patients with LGIB, yet the time frame for performing colonoscopy remains unclear. Prior studies of outcomes in urgent versus elective colonoscopy have yielded conflicting results and were often underpowered. Our study objective was to compare several outcomes between urgent and elective colonoscopy in patients hospitalized for LGIB. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed on studies that compared urgent and elective colonoscopy in patients with LGIB. Pooled rates were calculated for specific outcomes, and rate ratios were determined for selected comparison groups. RESULTS: Twelve studies met inclusion criteria, with a total sample size of 10,172 patients in the urgent colonoscopy arm and 14,224 patients in the elective colonoscopy arm. Urgent colonoscopy was associated with increased use of endoscopic therapeutic intervention (RR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.08-2.67). There were no significant differences in bleeding source localization (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, .92-1.25), adverse event rates (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, .65-1.71), rebleeding rates (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, .74-1.78), transfusion requirement (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, .73-1.41), or mortality (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, .45-3.02). CONCLUSIONS: Urgent colonoscopy appears to be safe and well tolerated, but there is no clear evidence that it alters important clinical outcomes.

[New methods for endoscopic hemostasis: focus on non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding]. / Neue Methoden zur endoskopischen Blutstillung: Fokus auf die nicht variköse Blutung.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a frequent emergency in daily clinical practice of a gastroenterologist. While incidence and mortality of gastrointestinal bleeding are decreasing in many countries, numbers of endoscopic procedures are increasing. Endoscopic therapy of non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding is still mainly based on "classical" procedures like injection of vasoactive drugs (i. e. epinephrine) or blood derivates, application of through-the-scope hemoclips (TTSC), Argon plasma coagulation and bipolar coagulation. However, in the last years new endoscopic techniques especially for non-variceal gastrointestinal bleedings have become available and enriched our endoscopic equipment. For example, over-the-scope clips (OTSCs) surpass the size of TTSCs and have been successfully established for treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding and leak closure of fistulas and perforations. In addition, hemostatic powders were shown to achieve primary hemostasis in several cases of gastrointestinal bleeding. Besides a brief overview of "classical" endoscopic procedures for hemostasis of non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding, this review focuses on new epidemiological data and uprising methods for endoscopic hemostasis.

The predictive capacity of the Glasgow-Blatchford score for the risk stratification of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in an emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the ability of the Glasgow Blatchford Score (GBS) system to identify the need for urgent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). METHODS: An observational, retrospective study was carried out in all patients attended at the ER for suspected UGIB in one year. Patients were split into two categories -high-risk (>2) and low-risk ( < or = 2)- by means of the GBS system. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included. Of these, 46 were classified as "high-risk" (> 2) and 14 as "low-risk" ( < or = 2) subjects.The characteristics of patients in the low-risk group included: Mean age: 46.6 +/- 13.7 (18-88) years. Males/females: 7/7. Urgent endoscopy revealed: normal (50%; n = 7); esophagitis (21.4%; n = 3); gastritis (14.2%; n = 2); Mallory-Weiss syndrome (7.1%; n = 1); non-bleeding varices (7.1%; n = 1). The characteristics of patients in the high-risk group included: Mean age: 68.7 +/- 19.8 (31-91) years. Males/females: 30/16. Digestive endoscopy revealed: Gastric/duodenal ulcer (56.52%; n = 26); normal (17.39%; n = 8); esophagitis (8.69%; n = 4); gastritis (8.69%; n = 4); angioectasia (4.34%; n = 2); bleeding varices (4.34%; n = 2). Low-risk patients exhibited no lesions requiring urgent management during endoscopy, and the sensitivity of the GBS scale for high-risk UGIB detection was found to be 100% (95% CI: 86.27%, 99.71%), with a specificity of 48.28% (95% CI: 29.89, 67.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The GBS scale seems to accurately identify patients with low-risk UGIB, who may be managed on an outpatient basis and undergo delayed upper GI endoscopy at the outpatient clinic.

[Diagnostic yield of video capsule endoscopy in premenopausal women with iron-deficiency anemia]. / Rentabilidad de la cápsula endoscópica en mujeres premenopáusicas con anemia ferropénica.

UNLABELLED: Clinical practice guidelines recommend video capsule endoscopy (VCE) studies in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) after conventional upper and lower endoscopies but there is a need for studies demonstrating the diagnostic yield, clinical impact, and cost in some patient subgroups. OBJECTIVES: 1.To determine the diagnostic yield of VCE in premenopausal women with IDA compared with that in men and postmenopausal women. 2. To identify the presence of VCE predictors in premenopausal women. 3. To estimate the cost-clinical impact relationship associated with VCE in this indication. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed 408 patients who underwent VCE. Patients with IDA were enrolled (premenopausal, postmenopausal women, and men), with previous normal work-up by conventional endoscopies. RESULTS: A total of 249 patients were enrolled: 131 women (52.6%), of which 51 were premenopausal and 80 were post-menopausal, and 118 men. The mean age was 60.7±16 years. The diagnostic yield of VCE for the diagnosis of IDA was 44.6% (95% CI 39.9 - 50.8). Diagnostic yield was 50.8% vs 38.9% in men vs women (p=0.05) and was 55% vs 13.7% in postmenopausal vs premenopausal women (p<0.001). No predictors of small bowel lesions were found in premenopausal women. The most common findings in the postmenopausal group were angioectasias (70.5%) and erosions (57.1%) in the premenopausal group. The cost in premenopausal women was 44.727€ and 86.3% of the procedures had no clinical impact. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of VCE is low in the etiological study of IDA in premenopausal women and there is no cost-effectiveness in relation to clinical impact. No predictors of small bowel lesions were found in this group.

Assessment of risk of complications in cirrhosis using portal thallium scans.

AIM: To investigate the usefulness of a novel thallium scan shunt index for assessing portosystemic shunt-related cirrhotic complications. METHODS: We enrolled 209 chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis patients. After rectal thallium instillation, radioactive isotope activity in the heart and liver was measured. The ratio of radiation uptake between the heart and the liver was calculated (the shunt index). This value indicates the degree of portosystemic circulation shunting. Blood tests, serum biochemistry tests, abdominal ultrasonography, gastroscopy and examination of clinical features such as the occurrence of varices, bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy were performed. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for complications. We compared the cumulative incidence rates of complications during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The thallium scan shunt index was significantly higher in the decompensated liver cirrhosis group than in the compensated liver cirrhosis group (0.91 ± 0.39 vs 0.39 ± 0.32, P < 0.001). It was also higher in the varices group, the hepatic encephalopathy group, and the variceal bleeding group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the index was an independent risk factor for predicting decompensated liver cirrhosis. When the cut-off value was 0.75, the shunt index had a sensitivity of 82.6%, a specificity of 84%, a positive predictive value of 61.5%, and a negative predictive value of 94.4% in diagnosing decompensated cirrhosis. When the shunt index was greater than 0.75, there was a significant increase in the number of decompensated events. CONCLUSION: The thallium shunt index is a good predictor of cirrhosis-related complications.

[Endoscopic ultrasonography in the assessment and management of complications of liver cirrhosis]. / Endosonografia w diagnostyce i leczeniu powiklan marskosci watroby.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy plays a major role in the diagnostic and treatment of the complications of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis. Endosonography (EUS), which combines routine endoscopy and ultrasound examination has been so far infrequently used in these cohort of patients despite the fact that it offers much more detailed analysis of several features of portal hypertension, not detected with routine endoscopy. These include detection of so called "deep varices", assessment of the thickness of gastric wall, differentiation between thickened folds and varices or detection of subclinical amounts of ascitic fluid. In this paper we systematically review the current and potential future applications of EUS in the diagnostic and treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of subtraction scintigraphy in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage.

UNLABELLED: (99m)Tc-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy is a powerful detection and localization tool that may be confounded by false-positive and false-negative findings. Subtraction scintigraphy has been used in the evaluation of acute lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage (LGIH) to reduce the impact of interpretive confounders. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the addition of subtraction scintigraphy in the evaluation of patients with acute LGIH. METHODS: The clinical phase of this research was a retrospective clinical study with a repeated-measures design including randomized control and experimental groups. A total of 49 patient studies were included in the sample. Studies were randomized and interpreted by 4 independent physicians. Decision-tree analysis was used to model direct costs and the potential risks of procedures for 2 diagnostic strategies for patients with acute LGIH: conventional scintigraphy alone and conventional scintigraphy combined with subtraction scintigraphy. The transition probabilities (or branching fraction at each decision node) for scintigraphy were based on the clinical results of this investigation. All other transition probabilities were derived from previously cited data. RESULTS: Combining subtraction techniques with conventional scintigraphy reduced the overall costs of procedures for patients with acute LGIH by $74 per patient and reduced deaths by 17.6% and complications by 15.7%. For conventional scintigraphy alone, 8.8% of patients presenting for scintigraphic evaluation of acute LGIH would undergo unnecessary angiograms, and 2.8% would have unnecessary surgery. These figures were reduced to just 5.4% and 1.8%, respectively, with the addition of subtraction scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: The use of subtraction scintigraphy as an adjunct to conventional scintigraphy for patients with acute LGIH may provide both cost and outcome benefits.

Acute small bowel bleeding: a distinct entity with significantly different economic implications compared with GI bleeding from other locations.

BACKGROUND: Historically, acute lower intestinal bleeding has incorporated small bowel with colonic sources. This potentially obscures the unique characteristics of small bowel bleeding, which are eclipsed by the attributes of the much more common colonic bleeding. Separating acute lower intestinal bleeding into small bowel and colonic sources may delineate characteristics of each, thereby making it possible to determine whether clinical outcomes vary by anatomic level of bleeding. METHODS: A total of 29 consecutive patients (15 women, 14 men; age 68.6 +/-2.4 years) with acute small bowel bleeding were compared with two other groups, each with 29 consecutive patients, with either acute colonic bleeding or acute upper GI bleeding. Clinical presentation, outcomes, and resource utilization for small bowel bleeding were compared with similar parameters for acute colonic bleeding and upper GI bleeding. RESULTS: Although the clinical presentation did not always distinguish the 3 groups, resource utilization was significantly higher in the small bowel bleeding group. The latter group required a higher number of diagnostic procedures (p < 0.001) and blood transfusions (p < 0.001), remained in hospital longer (p < 0.05), and had a higher cost of hospitalization (p < 0.001) compared with the colonic bleeding and upper GI bleeding groups. The mortality rate for patients with small bowel bleeding was 10%. Although none of the patients with upper GI bleeding and only 14% of those with colonic bleeding required greater than 3 diagnostic procedures, 79% of patients with small bowel bleeding required 4 procedures for diagnostic localization (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Small bowel bleeding ("mid-intestinal bleeding") is a distinct clinical entity with significantly worse outcomes compared with colonic bleeding and upper GI bleeding. The focus of the investigation should be directed to the small bowel, with enteroscopy or capsule endoscopy, when 3 investigative procedures fail to localize recurrent overt GI bleeding.

Assessment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) damage in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Aspirin is widely prescribed and confers considerable benefit to patients by reducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective analgesics, antipyretics and reduce the inflammatory component in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, both agents are associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal symptoms and the potentially serious consequences of gastroduodenal ulceration, bleeding and perforation. The introduction of highly selective cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors or the coprescription gastroprotective agents with nonselective NSAIDs have offered strategies to reduce the incidence of such events. This review article analyzes the quantitative techniques that can be employed by clinical pharmacologists and the clinical studies performed to assess NSAID damage in the gastrointestinal tract.

Color Doppler velocity profile assessment of portal hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension: correlation with esophageal variceal bleeding.

PURPOSE: Using the color Doppler velocity profile (CDVP), we investigated portal hemodynamics and their relationship with esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. METHODS: The hemodynamics of the portal trunk, right anterior portal branch, and splenic vein were evaluated in 69 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and 46 healthy volunteers. The CDVP, a recently developed Doppler software, was used to measure blood flow velocity and flow volume; evaluate the spatial distribution of flow velocities in the cross-section of a vessel (velocity profile), as reflected by the profile parameter (n); and assess changes in flow volume over time (flow profile). The congestion index was calculated by dividing the cross-sectional area by the maximum cross-sectional velocity (CSVmax). The hemodynamic features were compared between patients without a history of EVB [EVB(-)] and those with a history of EVB [EVB(+)], and a logistic regression model was employed to identify factors associated with EVB. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy group, the cirrhotic group had a significantly lower mean CSVmax in the portal trunk and right anterior portal branch (both p < 0.01), a significantly elevated mean flow volume in the splenic vein and portal trunk (both p < 0.01), a significantly elevated mean ratio of splenic vein flow volume to portal trunk flow volume (SV/PT) (p < 0.001), and a significantly greater mean congestion index in the portal trunk, right anterior portal branch, and splenic vein (all p < 0.01). In the cirrhotic group, there was a significantly higher incidence of a flat flow pattern in the right anterior portal branch and a phasic flow pattern in the splenic vein than in the healthy group (both p < 0.01). Among cirrhotic patients, the EVB(+) group had a significantly greater mean flow volume in the splenic vein (p < 0.01), greater mean SV/PT (p < 0.01), greater mean spleen size (p < 0.05), and lower mean portal trunk n value (p < 0.05) compared with the EVB(-) group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the SV/PT and portal trunk n value were independent EVB-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that portal hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients are characterized by passive congestion and increased blood flow. However, these 2 features had different preponderances in different parts of the portal venous system. Increased flow in the splenic vein may be the primary source of increased portal flow and may play a role in the development of EVB. The SV/PT and portal trunk n value may be valuable factors for predicting EVB.

[Color duplex Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of the risk of esophageal varices bleeding in cirrhotic patients]. / Ultrasonografía Doppler dúplex color en la valoración del riesgo de sangrado por varices esofágicas en pacientes cirróticos.

The risk of variceal bleeding (VB) in patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices may be determined by the portal pressure gradient. The value of Color Duplex Doppler Ultrasonography (CDDU) in the identification of patients at risk for variceal bleeding has been discussed in the literature. In patients with esophageal varices at risk for bleeding, CDDU did not detect patients who presented variceal bleeding during a mean follow-up of 7 months. However, patients with a low Congestion Index (< 0.05) and a mean upper portal vein velocity of > 9 were at lower risk for variceal bleeding. The Congestion Index was higher in patients with bleeding during the follow-up (0.09 vs. 0.057 (p = 0.03) and the mean portal vein velocity was lower in these patients (10.7 vs. 14).

[New TIPS placement in pregnancy in recurrent esophageal varices hemorrhage--assessment of fetal radiation exposure]. / TIPS-Neuanlage in der Schwangerschaft bei rezidivierender Osophagusvarizenblutung--Abschätzung der fetalen Strahlenexposition.

Recurrent variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis led to treatment with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in a pregnant woman at 20 weeks' gestation. Fetal radiation exposure was estimated to be less than 10 mSv. The use of a graduated catheter allowed measurement of field size and reliable determination of the patient's entrance dose. Radiation exposure of an approximated fetal dosage of 5.2 mSv did not justify abortion for medical reasons. Therefore, TIPS procedure is not generally contraindicated during pregnancy itself. TIPS placement may be a therapeutic option related to the severity of the underlying maternal disease, after radiation exposure of the fetus has been estimated.

Doppler ultrasound assessment of TIPS patency and function--the need for echo enhancers.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to illustrate the versatility of an i.v. administered echo enhancer for Doppler US assessment of TIPS patency and function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 22 Doppler US evaluations of TIPS patency and function were performed in 5 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and recurrent oesophageal bleeding who had been treated with TIPS. TIPS patency was evaluated by means of colour or power Doppler US. The volume flow (VF) was assessed in the TIPS and in the portal vein by spectral Doppler. The ratio of the VF in the TIPS to the VF in the portal vein (T/P ratio) was used to express the functional status of the TIPS. If Doppler signals were inconclusive or absent, echo-enhanced US was performed. RESULTS: In 22 follow-up Doppler US examinations, echo-enhanced Doppler US was required in 7 cases (29%). The Doppler enhancement persisted in the range of 3-5 min. No adverse effects were observed. An apparently normal TIPS function reflected a T/P ratio in the range of 0.44-1.10, median 0.78 +/- 0.20 (2SD). CONCLUSION: The i.v. administration of echo enhancers would seem to be indicated in the assessment of the TIPS function if conventional Doppler US fails to prove normal TIPS patency and function. The T/P ratio may be a convenient monitoring parameter for reflecting the TIPS function.