Concomitant hepatic encephalopathy and refractory ascites: successful treatment with staged embolization of two large portosystemic shunts and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement

J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2007 Nov;18(11):1441-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2007.07.023.

Abstract

A patient with cirrhosis, refractory ascites, and two large competitive portosystemic shunts presented with uncontrollable acute exacerbation of chronic hepatic encephalopathy (HE). A staged procedure was performed by first performing embolization of a large mesogonadal shunt to treat the HE. Three months later, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was created to address the ascites. A large paraumbilical vein shunt was embolized at TIPS placement to minimize the risk of recurrent HE. At 9-month follow-up, the ascites was well controlled with medical management with little or no HE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ascites / complications*
  • Ascites / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Hepatic Artery / transplantation*
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / complications*
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Jugular Veins / transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome