Impact of Anatomical, Procedural, and Operator Skill Factors on the Success and Duration of Fluoroscopy-Guided Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

To assess the impact of anatomical, procedural, and operator skill factors on the success and duration of fluoroscopy-guided transjugular intrahepatic portoystemic shunt following standard operating procedure (SOP).

During a 32-month period, 102 patients underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation (TIPS) by two interventional radiologists (IR) following our institutional SOP based on fluoroscopy guidance. Both demographic and procedural data were assessed. The duration of the intervention (D _Int) and of the portal vein puncture (D _Punct) was analyzed depending on the skill level of the IR as well as the anatomic or procedural factors.

In 99 of the 102 patients, successful TIPS without peri-procedural complications was performed. The mean D _Int (IR1: 77 min; IR2: 51 min, P < 0.005) and the mean D _Punct (IR1: 19 min; IR2: 13 min, P < 0.005) were significantly higher in TIPS performed by IR1 (with 2 years of clinical experience performing TIPS, n = 38) than by IR2 (>10 years of clinical experience performing TIPS, n = 61), (P < 0.005 both, Mann–Whitney U test). D _Int showed a higher correlation with D _Punct for IR2 (R ² = 0.63) than for IR1 (R ² = 0.13). There was no significant difference in the D _Punct for both IRs with regard to the success of the wedged portography (P = 0.90), diameter of the portal vein (P = 0.60), central right portal vein length (P = 0.49), or liver function (MELD-Score before the TIPS procedure; P = 0.14).

TIPS following SOP is safe, fast, and reliable. The only significant factor for shorter D _Punct and D _Int was the clinical experience of the IR. Anatomic variability, successful portography, or liver function did not alter the duration or technical success of TIPS.