[The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt. A new nonsurgical percutaneous method]

In a 49-year-old male patient suffering from severe symptoms of end-stage portal hypertension and Child's stage C metabolic status, an intrahepatic stent-assisted portosystemic shunt was established for the first time exclusively by means of interventional radiology. Via transjugular access, a modified Brockenbrough needle was used to puncture the right branch of the portal vein via the right liver vein. As a target, a Dormia-basket was used that had previously been exposed in the right main portal branch. After successful puncture and balloon dilation of the artificial tract, two Palmaz stents were implanted to keep the tract permanently open. The portosystemic pressure gradient dropped from 38 to 18 mm Hg. The clinical status of the patient improved substantially during the following days. However, the patient died on day 11 after the procedure because of sudden onset of acute respiratory distress arising from acute nosocomial fungus and cytomegalovirus infection worsened by his primary immunoincompetence. Autopsy demonstrated a totally patent shunt without superficial thrombus. Microscopically, a thin endothelial layer on the inner shunt surface was found to be present.