Abstract: Objective To explore the efficacy of the double stents technique simulating Viatorr stent-graft in correlation with the bare stent in TIPS. Methods From June 2004 to June 2012, 242 patients with gastro-esophageal bleeding and refractory ascites were treated with TIPS. Total of 56 cases (from 2009 to 2012) underwent TIPS with the simulative Viatorr technique; 186 cases (from 2004 to 2009) underwent TIPS with bare stent only. The sex, age, Child-Pugh scores and complications of portal hypertention were comparative between the two groups. In the first group, a PTFE-covered stent (8 mm × 40 mm; Fluency Plus Vascular Stent Graft, BARD Co.) was implanted according to the markers on the balloon after the shunt was established with a bare stent (8 mm × 60 mm; Astron, Biotronik GmbH Co. ). In the bare stent group, the shunt was maintained with a bare stent alone. Embolization of the gastric coronary veins with coils were done as routine in both groups. The shunt patency, the rate of rebleeding and nephalopathy were compared with χ2 test. Results All TIPS were technically successful in the Viatorr simulant group (100%), while the technical success rate was 98.9% in the bare stent group; the portal pressure fell to (18 ± 5.7) cm H2O and (18 ± 3.4) cm H2O, respectively. All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 (mean 21 ± 8.4) months. The difference of shunt patency rate, rebleeding rate were reviewed statistical significance between the two groups (P < 0.05). There was a little higher of encephalopathy in the double stent group than that in the bare stent group, however, there was no obviously statistical difference (P > 0.05). In the simulative Viatorr group, one case accepted antibiotics because of sepsis after TIPS, one case underwent a second TIPS due to the shunt occlusion within 50 days. In the bare stent group, three cases were demonstrated hemoperitoneum within the first 2 to 4 hours after TIPS, no other procedure related complications occurred. During the period of follow-up, 7 cases (“Viatorr” group) and 47 cases (bare stent group) needed re-TIPS; 5 cases (“Viatorr” group) and 39 cases (bare stent group) died of hepatic failure, HCC and MOF, respectively. Conclusions Simulative double-stent Viatorr technique can effectively improve the patency rate of shunt, and decrease the rebleeding rate compare with the bare stent.
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