PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Ochs

Publications and source records attributed to A Ochs.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The first decade of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): state of the art.

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an interventional treatment resulting in decompression of the portal system by creation of a side-to-side portosystemic anastomosis. Since its introduction 10 years ago, more than 500 publications have appeared demonstrating rapid acceptance and increasing clinical use. This review summarizes the present knowledge of technical aspects and complications, follow-up of patients, and indications. With respect to the technique, the TIPS procedure is probably one of the most difficult interventions and, therefore, technical success and complications clearly depend on the skills of the operator. Thus, the number and kind of complications reported in this review do not necessarily relate to the procedural complications of an experienced center. The follow-up of the TIPS patient has to assess shunt patency, liver function and hepatic encephalopathy. Shunt patency can best be monitored by duplex-sonography. Routine radiological revision seems not to be helpful and does not improve results, i.e., rebleeding and survival. Short term patency may be improved by anticoagulation, while such a treatment does not influence long-term patency. With respect to the indications of TIPS, much is known about treatment of variceal bleeding. The nine randomized studies that are available to date show that survival is comparable between patients receiving TIPS or endoscopic treatment. The second group of patients is the group with refractory ascites and related complications, such as hepatorenal syndrome and hepatic hydrothorax. It has been demonstrated that TIPS improves these complications, but randomized studies are still lacking. In addition, TIPS has been applied successfully to patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, portal vein thrombosis, before liver transplantation, and for the treatment of ectopic portal hypertensive bleeding.

Ascites↗
PubMed1997

Randomised trial of transjugular-intrahepatic-portosystemic shunt versus endoscopy plus propranolol for prevention of variceal rebleeding.

BACKGROUND: The transjugular-intrahepatic-portosystemic shunt is a new interventional treatment for portal hypertension. The aim of our study was to compare the transjugular shunt with endoscopic treatment for the prophylaxis of recurrent variceal bleeding. METHODS: Between March, 1993, and March, 1996, 126 patients with variceal bleeding were randomly assigned either transjugular shunt (n = 61) or endoscopic treatment (n = 65). Patients were followed up for a median of 14 (IQR 8-25) months and 13 (8-25) months, respectively. In 31 (51%) of the shunted patients, simultaneous transjugular-variceal embolisation was done at the time of shunt placement. Endoscopic treatment consisted of sclerotherapy and/or banding ligation and was combined with propranolol medication. FINDINGS: Technical success was achieved in all patients assigned to the shunt group. During follow-up, the cumulative 1-year variceal rebleeding rates in the shunted and endoscopically treated patients were 15% and 41% and the 2-year rates were 21% and 52% (p = 0.001), respectively. In nine (12%) patients from the endoscopic group treatment failed and the patients received the transjugular-shunt treatment. A total of 19 bleeding episodes from any source occurred in 15 patients in the shunt group compared with 100 episodes in 33 patients in the endoscopic group. There was no difference in survival with estimated 1-year survival rates for shunted and endoscopically treated patients of 90% and 89%, and 2-year survival rates of 79% and 82%, respectively. The incidence of clinically significant hepatic encephalopathy after 1 year was higher in the shunt group (36% vs 18%, p = 0.011). INTERPRETATION: These results suggest, that the transjugular shunt is more effective than endoscopic treatment in prevention of variceal rebleeding but has a considerable risk of hepatic encephalopathy. Survival is similar in the two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Current ascites therapy].

Ultrasonography detects ascites easily even in trace amounts. 80% of the cases are caused by hepatic disease, in the remaining 20% cancer, inflammation, pancreatic, renal, or cardiac disease can be found. The underlying disease should be investigated by few inexpensive laboratory test from serum, urine and ascites and by abdominal sonography. Hepatic ascites is caused by portal hypertension and disturbances of humoral factors. Sodium retention, peripheral, vasodilation, hyperdynamic circulation and progressive renal vasoconstriction lead to a stepwise deterioration of patients condition. Treatment with diuretics (furosemide, torsemide, or xipamide and spironolactone) and sodium-restriction (< 60 mval per day) control 85-90% of the cases with hepatic ascites. If this regimen fails, non-compliance, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hyponatremia or additional complications such as renal failure, Budd-Chiari syndrome or tumor should be considered. Ten to 15% of the patients develop refractory ascites and finally hepatorenal syndrome and have a poor prognosis. Early liver transplantation should be considered. Large volume paracentesis with albumin substitution is a therapeutic option in these patients. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) may be superior for patients with concurrent esophageal varices or hepatorenal syndrome. If TIPS is considered the patient should be referred to an experienced center. The peritoneo-venous shunt is restricted to rare indications. In the future, new drugs such as antagonists of endothelins or of the antidiuretic hormone may offer new therapeutic options.

Ascites↗
PubMed1997

The transjugular stent implantation for the treatment of malignant portal and hepatic vein obstruction in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The increase in portal vascular resistance is a significant complication of metastatic disease to the liver or locally advanced cancer, e.g., biliary cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This paper describes the successful palliative treatment of two cancer patients with portal hypertension presenting with the symptoms of tense ascites, mesenteric congestion, and severe variceal bleeding. By creating a stenttract between a hepatic vein and a main branch of the portal vein and/or by placing an extendable stent into the portal vein, the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) technique was used to decompress the portovascular system. RESULTS: The TIPS-technique offers a new, safe and effective palliation for malignant portal hypertension. In both patients, the symptoms of the portal hypertension disappeared after the procedure. This was accompanied by a significant improvement of the patients performance status allowing an early ambulation. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the TIPS procedure as a minimal invasive treatment for portal vein decompression in selected tumor patients.

Biliary Tract Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Thrombogenicity in stents and its effect on shunt patency.

PURPOSE: To compare the thrombogenicity and patency of the Palmaz stent and the Wallstent, and to evaluate the effect of periprocedural heparin therapy in cirrhotic patients with maintained coagulation capacity who receive a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients were randomized into 4 groups of 6 patients. Each received a Palmaz-stent or Wallstent TIPS with or without periprocedural heparin therapy. The groups receiving periprocedural heparin were given 24 U/kg b.w. just before stent placement, followed by 24 h therapeutic i.v. heparin. After 24 hours, all patients received i.v. heparin for 1 week followed by subcutaneous treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin (0.3 ml/day) for another 4 weeks. Stent thrombogenicity was determined scintigraphically after i.v. injection of 120-290 mBq of 99mTc-labeled platelets at the time of stent placement and expressed as the stent/heart ratio. Shunt patency was assessed by duplex sonography and confirmed radiologically. RESULTS: The aggregation ratio was highest 90 min after stent implantation. Wallstents showed a significantly higher ratio than Palmaz stents. Heparin reduced the ratio in patients with a Wallstent (-41%) but had no effect on Palmaz stents. Patients with a Wallstent without heparin had a higher rate of early shunt insufficiency (66.6%) than the other patients (0-16.6%). Primary assisted long-term patency was similar in the 4 groups. CONCLUSION: Wallstents were more thrombogenic than Palmaz stents and gave a significantly higher risk of early shunt insufficiency in cirrhotic patients with maintained coagulation capacity. Periprocedural heparin was effective in the prevention of shunt insufficiency and is therefore indicated in such patients.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1997

[Sex steroid profiles and ovarian activities of the female panda Yan Yan in the Berlin Zoo].

The nine years old giant panda YAN YAN was received in April 1995 on loan for 5 years to the Berlin Zoo. Urine samples were collected daily or every second day from April 1995 to June 1996 in order to follow up sex hormone secretions and ovarian activities. Conjugated steroids were hydrolysed, extracted and measured with two enzyme immuno assays (EIA) being specific for either total oestrogenes or pregnandiol. The evaluation of the hormone secretion pattern yielded the following results: There is a significant synchronous cross correlation between estrogen and progestin metabolites secretion indicating its simultaneous synthesis. In addition, we found a regular increase and decrease of both hormones with a 13 days interval. This secretory pattern indicates repeating development and atresia of follicle cohorts with a cycle length of about 13 days. Only a single period of slightly elevated oestrogen synthesis was monitored in Feb. 96 without any signs of oestrus. Obviously the stimulation of ovarian function was insufficient for complete ovulation and corpus luteum formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Recurrent bleeding from colonic varices in portal hypertension. The successful prevention of recurrence by the implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic stent-shunt (TIPS)].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: Sclerotherapy was performed in a 52-year-old patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh stage A) for recurrent bleeding from oesophageal varices. Half a year later he again was admitted to hospital because of recurrent passage of bloody stools. The cardiovascular status was stable; the liver was enlarged by 15 cm in the medioclavicular line. INVESTIGATIONS: Endoscopy revealed several varices in the colon near the right flexure. One of the varices had an ulcer of 5 mm size. Duplex sonography revealed portal hypertension with cirrhosis of the liver and partial thrombosis of the main trunk of the portal vein without any sign of cavernous transformation. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Because of the partial portal vein thrombosis it was decided to insert a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt. This obviated the thrombosis and lowered the portosystemic pressure gradient by 6.8%. With the shunt functioning well there were no further bleedings in the subsequent year. CONCLUSION: The only slightly invasive TIPS implantation is an effective therapeutic procedure for bleeding from colon varices caused by portal hypertension.

Colon↗
PubMed1995

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt procedure for refractory ascites.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that the transjugular placement of an intrahepatic stent to establish a portosystemic shunt is an effective treatment of uncomplicated ascites accompanying variceal bleeding. We studied the stent shunt for use in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites refractory to medical treatment. METHODS: Fifty of 62 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites (18 with Child-Pugh class B liver disease and 32 with class C) were treated with the stent shunt--an expandable stent of metallic mesh placed between a major branch of the portal vein and one of the hepatic veins. Patients were followed for a mean (+/- SD) of 426 +/- 333 days. Those with advanced cancer, severe heart failure, or severe liver failure were excluded. RESULTS: The stent shunt was successfully placed in all patients and reduced the pressure gradient between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava by an average of 63 percent. Thirty-seven patients (74 percent) had complete responses (total remission of ascites within three months), and nine patients (18 percent) had partial responses (ascites detected by ultrasound but with no need for paracentesis). Four patients did not respond, including two who died within two weeks of shunt placement. After the procedure, 25 patients had hepatic encephalopathy, as compared with 20 patients before the procedure; although encephalopathy improved in 3 patients, new encephalopathy developed in 8 patients. In the 28 of the 33 patients followed for more than six months who were evaluated, the mean serum creatinine concentration was 1.5 +/- 0.09 mg per deciliter (133 +/- 8 mumol per liter) before placement of the stent shunt, 1.5 +/- 1.6 mg per deciliter (133 +/- 141 mumol per liter) one week after the procedure, and 0.9 +/- 0.3 mg per deciliter (80 +/- 27 mumol per liter) after six months (P = 0.008 for the comparison of concentrations before and six months after the procedure). Renal function did not improve in the six patients with organic kidney disease. Procedure-related complications developed in 16 patients, including intraabdominal bleeding requiring blood transfusions in 2 patients. Thrombotic occlusion of the stent shunt occurred within two weeks in 5 patients, and later insufficiency of the shunt occurred in 16 patients, including 12 with recurrence of ascites after complete remission. During followup, an additional 29 patients died--10 of progressive liver disease and 19 of other causes. Survival for at least one year was associated with a patient's being under 60 years of age, having a serum bilirubin level before placement of the stent shunt of less than 1.3 mg per deciliter (22 mumol per liter), and having a complete response. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in an uncontrolled prospective study suggest that the transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic stent-shunt procedure was an effective treatment for many patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites, but mortality from underlying diseases was substantial.

Ascites↗
PubMed1995

The reducing stent: treatment for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt-induced refractory hepatic encephalopathy and liver failure.

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy of a stent device in reducing the diameter of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with progressive liver failure or with shunt-induced hepatic encephalopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with TIPS (four with severe hepatic encephalopathy, three with progressive liver failure) underwent transjugular implantation of a stent designed to reduce the flow through the original TIPS channel. RESULTS: Implantation of the reducing stent proceeded without complication. Duplex sonography showed that stent flow decreased by 41% +/- 18 (mean +/- standard deviation). The four patients with hepatic encephalopathy showed substantial improvement. Concentrations of plasma ammonium and serum bilirubin improved considerably. In contrast, functional impairment progressed in the three patients treated for liver failure. The patients soon died. CONCLUSION: With the limited experience of treating these seven patients, the authors suggest that shunt-induced hepatic encephalopathy can be effectively treated with implantation of a reducing stent. Hepatic failure, however, is a deleterious complication that seems to be irreversible.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Noncavernomatous portal vein thrombosis in hepatic cirrhosis: treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and local thrombolysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and local, low-dose thrombolysis in the treatment of complete, noncavernomatous portal vein occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TIPS implantation and portal vein recanalization was attempted in seven patients with noncavernomatous portal vein obstruction and recurrent variceal bleeding. TIPS placement was followed by thrombolytic therapy to restore portal venous blood flow. Hemodynamic effects and clinical characteristics after the procedure and during follow-up were assessed. RESULTS: The implantation of TIPS and the recanalization of the portal vein trunk were successful in all patients. The treatment reduced the portal venous pressure gradient and restored portal blood flow. No bleeding complications were observed. CONCLUSION: TIPS placement and recanalization of the main portal vein is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with liver cirrhosis and noncavernomatous portal vein occlusion.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1995

Budd-Chiari syndrome: technical, hemodynamic, and clinical results of treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

PURPOSE: To evaluate use of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as a nonsurgical approach for the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with fulminant (n = 2), subacute (n = 5), or chronic (n = 5) BCS underwent TIPS placement. Hepatic venous obstruction was demonstrated at computed tomography and color duplex sonography. BCS was confirmed histologically in all patients. Hemodynamic parameters and clinical characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: TIPS creation was successful in all patients. Treatment reduced the portal venous pressure gradient by 75% and resulted in a mean shunt flow of 2,300 mL/min +/- 650 (standard deviation). No serious procedure-related complications were observed. The two patients with fulminant BCS died of septicemia or progressive liver failure despite intervention. The other 10 patients showed clinical improvement with reduction or disappearance of ascites. During follow-up, shunt dysfunction occurred in five of 10 patients with recurrence of ascites requiring repeat intervention. CONCLUSION: TIPS placement is safe and effective in patients with portal hypertension caused by subacute or chronic BCS.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt procedure for variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Transjugular placement of an intrahepatic stent is a new technique to establish a portosystemic shunt for treatment of portal hypertension. A puncture needle is advanced in a catheter through the inferior vena cava into a hepatic vein; then an intrahepatic branch of the portal vein is punctured and an expandable stent of metallic mesh is implanted to establish the shunt. METHODS: We attempted the stent-shunt procedure in 100 of 112 consecutive patients with variceal bleeding due to cirrhosis, who were then followed for a mean (+/- SD) of 12 +/- 6 months. Of the 100 patients, 22 had Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis, 10 were treated on an emergency basis, and 68 had alcoholic cirrhosis. The shunt was established with use of Palmaz stents expanded to 8 to 12 mm in diameter. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 93 percent of the patients. The mean (+/- SD) time for the procedure was 1.2 +/- 0.3 hours. The shunt reduced the portal venous pressure gradient by 57 percent. Major complications were hemorrhage (intraabdominal bleeding in six patients, biliary bleeding in four, and bleeding in the liver capsule in three) and migration of the stent into the pulmonary artery (in two patients). At follow-up, stenosis of the shunt was evident in 21 patients and occlusion in 10 patients; 10 of these 31 patients had variceal rebleeding. Stenoses and occlusions of the shunt were all treated successfully by redilation, thrombolysis, or implantation of an additional stent. Hepatic encephalopathy (stages I to III) developed in 25 percent of the patients. The proportion of patients with shunts who remained free of variceal rebleeding was 92 percent at six months and 82 percent at one year. The 30-day mortality was 3 percent. The cumulative one-year survival was 85 percent. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the transjugular placement of an intrahepatic portosystemic stent is an effective and safe treatment for variceal hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension due to cirrhosis.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗
PubMed1994

[Current status of abdominal pancreatic ultrasound. A retrospective analysis of 585 pancreatic ultrasound examinations].

BACKGROUND: In the recent years several investigations focused on the diagnostic value of abdominal ultrasonography in pancreatic disorders. However, the diagnostic accuracy in these studies ranged between 40 and 90% probably related to variations in study design and other methodologic criteria. PATIENTS: We examined retrospectively 585 patients subdivided into six subgroups. 385 patients had a clinical question aimed at the pancreas and the remaining 200 functioned as screening patients. RESULTS: Using laboratory tests, CT, ERCP, surgery and autopsy as reference methods the positive predictive value for all pancreatic disorders was 85% with the best results for chronic pancreatitis (86% versus 77.5% for acute pancreatitis and 79.5% for malignant tumors). The prevalence of pancreatic disease in symptomatic patients was 28.6% versus only 2.5% in the screening groups. Therefore no significant differences could be detected in groups where the pancreas was not clearly visualized and groups with negative sonographic findings (4% false negative findings versus 1%, respectively). In groups with suspected pancreatic disease the negative predictive value was 86% which was independent of the visualization of the pancreas. CONCLUSION: In summary positive sonographic findings have a high predictive value for pancreatic disorders and negative results are not more reliable than missing visualization of the pancreas. The positive predictive value is independent from the kind of pancreatic disease and in screening examinations negative findings and findings without clearly visualization of the pancreas have both high negative predictive values.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

[Hemodynamics, liver function and clinical follow-up after TIPS].

In 126 patients with liver cirrhosis treated electively with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPS) to prevent variceal rebleeding, the portosystemic pressure gradient decreased by 60%. In spite of this incomplete effect the risk for variceal rebleeding was still under 20% after 2 years. Only 1 patient died of variceal rebleeding. Shunt insufficiency occurred in 50%, mainly during the first year, but shunt function was restored in nearly all cases by radiologic intervention, i.e., redilatation or implantation of an additional stent. During the follow-up of 16 +/- 9 months, 21 patients (17%) died, one-third of them from progressive liver failure aggravated in 4 cases by severe drinking. De novo hepatic encephalopathy was observed in 10%, especially in older patients and patients with impaired liver function before TIPS. In such patients it is recommended that the shunt be dilated to 0.8 cm at most, and the TIPS procedure can be combined with transjugular embolization of the varices. The advantages of TIPS over both endoscopic sclerotherapy and drug treatment must be clarified in randomized studies, which have already been initiated in several centers.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1994

Clinical relevance of abnormal liver findings with ultrasound.

In this study we compared the ultrasound findings of 203 hospitalized patients with a variety of reference methods: biopsy, computed tomography and laboratory liver function tests with the aim of defining their clinical relevance. The ultrasound findings were assignable to 3 groups: normal, descriptive and definitive. When ultrasound described a liver as normal, or showing "increased echogenicity" or "altered configuration", the figures of normal clinical reference methods were almost identical (i.e., 70% normal). When a definitive ultrasound diagnosis ("cirrhosis", "fatty liver" or "cardiac congestion") was made, the percentage of otherwise normal livers decreased to less than 20% and was 0% for cirrhosis and cardiac congestion. The positive predictive value for a single abnormal criterion in ultrasound was between 16% and 21%, while for a definitive diagnosis it was between 67% and 100%. Many of our patients, however, had additional risk factors for liver abnormalities, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus or chemotherapy for malignancies. These risk factors can induce morphological parenchymal alterations without blood test abnormalities and, although correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, elude other reference methods in patients without biopsy. In conclusion, the finding of a single abnormal criterion of liver abnormality in ultrasound should be treated with caution. Ultrasound diagnoses of "fatty liver", "cirrhosis", diagnosed by additional signs of portal hypertension, or "cardiac congestion", yield more information. A normal ultrasound does not exclude the presence of fatty liver or cirrhosis.

Fatty Liver↗
PubMed1993

[Trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) in a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome].

The surgical modalities for the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The clinical course of a patient with subacute Budd-Chiari syndrome and a myeloproliferative disorder is described in whom, to reduce the portal hypertension, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) was implanted. TIPS is a new, still experimental procedure for the treatment of patients with portal hypertension which is used mainly for patients with recurrent variceal bleeding. An intrahepatic metal wire stent connects a main branch of the portal vein with a large hepatic vein and reduces the portal venous pressure as a side-to-side portosystemic shunt. In the patient described here the implantation of a TIPS was followed by rapid reduction of ascites production and a continuing general improvement.

Adult↗