To evaluate albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) grades in predicting overall survival in high-risk patients undergoing conventional transarterial chemoembolization for ...hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
This single-center retrospective study included 180 high-risk patients (142 men, 59 y ± 9) between April 2007 and January 2015. Patients were considered high-risk based on laboratory abnormalities before the procedure (bilirubin > 2.0 mg/dL, albumin < 3.5 mg/dL, platelet count < 60,000/mL, creatinine > 1.2 mg/dL); presence of ascites, encephalopathy, portal vein thrombus, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt; or Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score > 15. Serum albumin, bilirubin, and platelet values were used to determine ALBI and PALBI grades. Overall survival was stratified by ALBI and PALBI grades with substratification by Child-Pugh class (CPC) and Barcelona Liver Clinic Cancer (BCLC) stage using Kaplan-Meier analysis. C-index was used to determine discriminatory ability and survival prediction accuracy.
Median survival for 79 ALBI grade 2 patients and 101 ALBI grade 3 patients was 20.3 and 10.7 months, respectively (P < .0001). Median survival for 30 PALBI grade 2 and 144 PALBI grade 3 patients was 20.3 and 12.9 months, respectively (P = .0667). Substratification yielded distinct ALBI grade survival curves for CPC B (P = .0022, C-index 0.892), BCLC A (P = .0308, C-index 0.887), and BCLC C (P = .0287, C-index 0.839). PALBI grade demonstrated distinct survival curves for BCLC A (P = 0.0229, C-index 0.869). CPC yielded distinct survival curves for the entire cohort (P = .0019) but not when substratified by BCLC stage (all P > .05).
ALBI and PALBI grades are accurate survival metrics in high-risk patients undergoing conventional transarterial chemoembolization for HCC. Use of these scores allows for more refined survival stratification within CPC and BCLC stage.
To compare the safety and clinical outcomes of combined transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) plus variceal obliteration to those of TIPS alone for the treatment of gastric varices ...(GVs).
A single-center, retrospective study of 40 patients with bleeding or high-risk GVs between 2008 and 2019 was performed. The patients were treated with combined therapy (n = 18) or TIPS alone (n = 22). There were no significant differences in age, sex, model for end-stage liver disease score, or GV type between the groups. The primary outcomes were the rates of GV eradication and rebleeding. The secondary outcomes included portal hypertensive complications and hepatic encephalopathy.
The mean follow-up period was 15.4 months for the combined therapy group and 22.9 months for the TIPS group (P = .32). After combined therapy, there was a higher rate of GV eradication (92% vs 47%, P = .01) and a trend toward a lower rate of GV rebleeding (0% vs 23%, P = .056). The estimated rebleeding rates were 0% versus 5% at 3 months, 0% versus 11% at 6 months, 0% versus 18% at 1 year, and 0% versus 38% at 2 years after combined therapy and TIPS, respectively (P = .077). There was no difference in ascites (13% vs 11%, P = .63), hepatic encephalopathy (47% vs 55%, P = .44), or esophageal variceal bleeding (0% vs 0%, P > .999) after the procedure between the groups.
The GV eradication rate is significantly higher after combined therapy, with no associated increase in portal hypertensive complications. This translates to a clinically meaningful trend toward a reduction in GV rebleeding. The value of a combined treatment strategy should be prospectively studied in a larger cohort to determine the optimal management of GVs.
The placement of superior vena cava (SVC) filters to prevent pulmonary emboli (PE) from upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT), although controversial, has been reported. A total of 21 ...publications were identified that reported 209 SVC filters and documented eight major filter-related complications (3.8%), including four cardiac tamponades, two aortic perforations, and one recurrent pneumothorax. The in-hospital or 1-month mortality rate was 43.1%. Twenty-eight additional publications were identified that reported 3,747 cases of UEDVT. The rates of PE and associated mortality were 5.6% and 0.7%, respectively. Studies imaging both upper and lower extremities found deep vein thrombus 14.7 times more likely to occur in the lower extremities and the rate of PE from a lower-extremity thrombus to be 25.1%. The lack of evidence documenting the risk from UEDVT and the absence of data supporting the safety and efficacy of SVC filters bring their benefit into question.
To assess the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation with or without variceal coil and/or plug embolization in decompressing or occluding gastric varices (GVs).
In ...this retrospective study, 78 patients with GV bleeding who underwent TIPS creation with or without embolotherapy with metallic coils and/or plugs from 1999 to 2014 were identified. Individuals who had a bare-metal TIPS and/or lacked post-TIPS imaging or endoscopic follow-up were excluded. The final cohort included 26 patients (16 men; median age, 54 y; median Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, 16). Variceal types, supplying vessels, and postprocedure GV patency on cross-sectional imaging or endoscopy were assessed. The primary study outcome measure was GV patency rate as a surrogate for efficacy of TIPS creation with or without embolization.
GVs included gastroesophageal varix types 1 (n = 10) and 2 (n = 2), isolated GV types 1 (n = 4) and 2 (n = 2), and unspecified (n = 8). TIPS creation resulted in a median final portosystemic pressure gradient of 7 mm Hg. Multiple GV-supplying vessels (left/posterior/short gastric veins) were present in 65% of patients (n = 17). Embolization was performed in 69% (n = 18). Thirteen, four, and nine patients had imaging, endoscopic, or both imaging/endoscopic follow-up. GV patency rate was 65% (n = 17; 61%/75% with/without embolization) at a median of 128.5 days (range, 1-1,295 d) after TIPS creation. Incidence of recurrent bleeding was 27% (n = 7), and the 90-day mortality rate was 15% (n = 4).
In this study, most GVs showed persistent patency despite TIPS decompression and variceal embolization, and the incidence of recurrent bleeding was high. The findings suggest suboptimal efficacy for GVs, and indicate a need for study of alternative or adjunctive approaches to GV treatment, such as chemical obliteration.
Pulmonary hypertension secondary to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD-PH) represents a major complication of BPD in extremely preterm infants for which there are currently no safe and effective ...interventions. The abundance of interleukin-1 (IL-1) is strongly correlated with the severity and long-term outcome of BPD infants and we have previously shown that IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) protects against murine BPD; therefore, we hypothesized that IL-1Ra may also be effective against BPD-PH. We employed daily injections of IL-1Ra in a murine model in which BPD/BPD-PH was induced by antenatal LPS and postnatal hyperoxia of 65% O
. Pups reared in hyperoxia for 28 days exhibited a BPD-PH-like disease accompanied by significant changes in pulmonary vascular morphology: micro-CT revealed an 84% reduction in small vessels (4-5 μm diameter) compared to room air controls; this change was prevented by IL-1Ra. Pulmonary vascular resistance, assessed at day 28 of life by echocardiography using the inversely-related surrogate marker time-to-peak-velocity/right ventricular ejection time (TPV/RVET), increased in hyperoxic mice (0.27 compared to 0.32 in air controls), and fell significantly with daily IL-1Ra treatment (0.31). Importantly,
cine-angiography revealed that this protection afforded by IL-1Ra treatment for 28 days is maintained at day 60 of life. Despite an increased abundance of mediators of pulmonary angiogenesis in day 5 lung lysates, namely vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), no difference was detected in
pulmonary vascular reactivity between air and hyperoxia mice as measured in precision cut lung slices, or by immunohistochemistry in alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and endothelin receptor type-A (ET
) at day 28. Further, on day 28 of life we observed cardiac fibrosis by Sirius Red staining, which was accompanied by an increase in mRNA expression of galectin-3 and CCL2 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2) in whole hearts of hyperoxic pups, which improved with IL-1Ra. In summary, our findings suggest that daily administration of the anti-inflammatory IL-1Ra prevents the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and the pulmonary dysangiogenesis of murine BPD-PH, thus pointing to IL-1Ra as a promising candidate for the treatment of both BPD and BPD-PH.
Biliary complications, including biliary stricture and obstruction, remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality after living donor liver transplantation. In these patients the biliary system may ...not be accessible by endoscopic approach due to Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and a percutaneous approach may be considered to avoid surgical interventions. When there is complete biliary obstruction, the conventional percutaneous approaches may not be successful to cross the hepaticojejunostomy anastomosis. In this study, a totally percutaneous rendezvous technique was used to create a neo-biliary-enteric tract using a trans-biliary Rosch-Uchida needle in a patient with complete biliary obstruction and Roux-en-Y anastomosis after a split liver transplant. A biodegradable stent was placed after recanalization with long-term patency on follow up.
Background
The Viatorr Controlled Expansion (VCX) stent-graft was designed to mitigate hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation.
Aims
To ...determine the incidence and degree of HE after VCX TIPS.
Methods
Thirty-three patients (M:F 17:16, mean age 58 years, mean MELD score 12) who underwent VCX TIPS between 2018 and 2019 were retrospectively studied. 11/33 (33%) patients had medically controlled pre-TIPS HE. TIPS indications included variceal hemorrhage (
n
= 12, 30%) and ascites (
n
= 21, 70%). Measured outcomes were post-TIPS HE (overall, recurrent, de novo) graded using the West Haven system, time-to-HE occurrence, HE-related hospitalization rate, and TIPS reduction rate.
Results
VCX TIPS were 8 mm in 28/33 (85%) and 10 mm in 5/33 (15%). Mean final portosystemic pressure gradient was 6 mmHg. Cumulative HE incidence post-TIPS was 61% (20/33). 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month HE rates were 24%, 30%, 53%, and 61% over 247-day median follow-up. Median time-to-HE was 180 days. HE grades spanned grade 1 (
n
= 6), grade 2 (
n
= 8), and grade 3 (
n
= 6); 9 and 11 cases were recurrent and de novo HE, respectively. Medication non-compliance/infection was implicated in HE in 9/20 (45%) cases. Medical therapy addressed HE in 18/20 (90%) cases; however, HE still resulted in 39 hospitalizations among 13 patients, and median time to first hospitalization was 75 days. Shunt reduction was necessary in 2 (10%) cases of medically refractory HE.
Conclusions
The incidence of HE after VCX TIPS is high. Though HE symptoms may be medically controlled, hospitalization rates are high, and shunt reduction may be necessary.
Purpose
To assess the incidence, prognostic factors, and clinical outcomes of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation.
Materials and Methods
In ...this single-institution retrospective study, 191 patients (m:f = 114:77, median age 54 years, median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease or MELD score 14) who underwent TIPS creation between 1999 and 2013 were studied. Medical record review was used to identify demographic characteristics, liver disease, procedure, and outcome data. Post-TIPS HE within 30 days was defined by new mental status changes and was graded according to the West Haven classification system. The influence of data parameters on HE occurrence and 90-day mortality was assessed using binary logistic regression.
Results
TIPS was successfully created with hemodynamic success in 99 % of cases. Median final PSG was 7 mmHg. HE incidence within 30 days was 42 % (81/191; 22 % de novo, 12 % stable, and 8 % worsening). Degrees of HE included grade 1 (46 %), grade 2 (29 %), grade 3 (18 %), and grade 4 (7 %). Medical therapy typically addressed HE, and shunt reduction was necessary in only three cases. MELD score (
P
= 0.020) and age (
P
= 0.009) were significantly associated with HE development on multivariate analysis. Occurrence of de novo HE post-TIPS did not associate with 90-day mortality (
P
= 0.400), in contrast to worsening HE (
P
< 0.001).
Conclusions
The incidence of post-TIPS HE is non-trivial, but symptoms are typically mild and medically managed. HE rates are higher in older patients and those with worse liver function and should be contemplated when counseling on expected TIPS outcomes and post-procedure course.
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of microfibrillar collagen paste with those of gelatin sponge for liver track embolization after islet cell transplants.
In a ...single-institution, retrospective study, 37 patients underwent 66 islet cell transplants from January 2005 through October 2015. Transplants were performed with 6-French transhepatic access, systemic anticoagulation, pretransplant and posttransplant portal venous pressure measurement, and image-guided liver track embolization with gelatin sponge (2005-2011) or microfibrillar collagen paste (2012-2015). The findings on 20 patients (two men, 18 women; mean age, 48 years) who underwent 35 gelatin sponge embolizations were compared with the findings on 13 patients (six men, seven women; mean age, 48 years) who underwent 22 microfibrillar collagen paste embolizations (four patients, nine procedures without embolization excluded). Medical record review was used to compare laboratory test results, portal venous pressures, and 30-day adverse bleeding events (classified according to Society of Interventional Radiology and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria) between groups.
The technical success rates were 100% in the microfibrillar collagen paste group and 91% in the gelatin sponge group. Group characteristics were similar, there being no differences in platelet count, partial thromboplastin time, or number of islet cell transplants per patient (p > 0.05). A statistical difference in international normalized ratio (1.0 versus 1.1) was not clinically significant (p = 0.012). Posttransplant portal venous pressure was slightly higher among patients treated with gelatin sponge (13 versus 9 mm Hg, p = 0.002). No bleeding occurred after microfibrillar collagen paste embolization, whereas nine bleeding events followed gelatin sponge embolization (0% versus 26%, p = 0.020). In univariate comparison of bleeding and nonbleeding groups, the use of gelatin sponge was statistically associated with postprocedure hemorrhage.
Microfibrillar collagen paste is effective and safe for liver track embolization to prevent bleeding after islet cell transplants. It appears to be more efficacious than gelatin sponge.
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