Embolization of the Transhepatic Tract after Percutaneous Portal Vein Interventions: Single-Centre Retrospective Study Comparing n-butyl Cyanoacrylate Versus Coils.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of transhepatic puncture tract embolization with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) versus coils after percutaneous transhepatic portal vein interventions in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It was also the aim of the study to evaluate the extent of artifacts in CT exams during FU. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study from 2017-2019 in 190 patients who underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal vein interventions. The transhepatic puncture tracts were embolized with n-BCA in 88 patients (Group A) and with coils in 102 patients (Group B). Procedure-related complications and image noise around coils and n-BCA were compared between the groups. No significant differences were noted at baseline between both groups (platelets, coagulation, liver disease, types of procedures, liver function, liver tumors). RESULTS: All patients underwent transhepatic puncture tract embolization. Procedure-related complications were only observed in patients from Group B: subcapsular hemorrhage (n = 2; 1.96%), hepatic artery hemorrhage (n = 1; 0.98%), and pseudoaneurysms combined with hemobilia occurred (n = 1; 0.98%). In Group A, the distal part of the punctured portal vein branch was embolized with n-BCA in 1 patient (1.14%). Four major complications in Group B Vs 0 in Group A were observed, respectively (p < 0.0001). The image noise around n-BCA was significantly lower than that around coils (10.7 ± 1.7 HU vs. 54.3 ± 15.0 HU, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: n-BCA tract embolization is more effective than using coils, with fewer bleeding events, at the cost of a higher potential for unintended embolization of portal vein branches.

PTFE-covered TIPS is an effective treatment for secondary preventing variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients with high risks.

AIM: To compare the effectiveness and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with endoscopic therapy plus non-selective ß-blockers (NSBBs) for secondary prevention of gasroesophageal variceal bleeding (GEVB) in cirrhotic patients with high-risk factors of treatment failure. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A total of 122 cirrhotic patients with history of gasroesophageal variceal bleeding and high factors including hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥ 20 mmHg, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), gastrorenal shunt (GRS), or extraluminal para-gastric veins (ep-GVs) detected by endoscopic ultrasound, were analyzed retrospectively. Seventy-seven patients underwent TIPS with PTFE-covered stent (group A) and 102 patients received endoscopic therapy combined with nonselective ß-blockers (NSBBs) (group B). According to above high-risk factors, both groups were stratified into four paired subgroups (A1-A4 and B1-B4). Two-year rebleeding rate, overt hepatic encephalopathy, overall survival, and procedure-related adverse events were compared between the two groups and paired subgroups. RESULTS: The 2-year cumulative probability of free of variceal rebleeding was higher in group A than group B (93 vs. 62%, P < 0.001). Similarly, the 2-year cumulative probability of free of variceal rebleeding was also higher in the subgroups A1-A4 than the subgroups B1-B4 (91 vs. 67%, P = 0.022, 90 vs. 67%, P = 0.021, 94 vs. 59%, P = 0.029, and 90 vs. 58%, P = 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups and corresponding subgroups in overt hepatic encephalopathy and survival. CONCLUSION: Compared to secondary prophylaxis with endoscopic therapy plus NSBBs, polytetrafluoroethylene-covered TIPS could significantly reduce the variceal rebleeding rate in cirrhotic patients with HVPG ≥ 20 mmHg, PVT, GRS, or ep-GVs, without increasing the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy.