[Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in children. Initial clinical experiences and literature review]

To present special methodical and clinical findings of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPSS) in children and to discuss potential indications.

Between 1993 and 1996, 6 children aged 2-13 years were treated by TIPSS-insertion. In four cases, the underlying disease was extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) and in two cases liver fibrosis secondary to treatment of neoplasms during early childhood. Indications for TIPSS insertion were variceal bleeding resistant to other treatment modalities in three patients, hypersplenism in one patient and both bleeding and hypersplenism in two. Portal vein punctures were performed using 16-gauge needles, because 19-gauge fine-needles showed insufficient stiffness. The mean follow-up was 24.5 months.

Shunt insertion succeeded in all children with a mean procedure time of 5.2 hours. Periportal fibrosis associated with EHBA, atypical course of hepatic veins and small diameters and distances of vessels were conditions making the procedure difficult. Bleeding ceased in all patients, peripheral platelet counts rose by a mean value of 58%. Procedure-related complications were minor extrahepatic bleeding in one child and temporary haemolysis in another child. Restenosis resulted in three patients and were treated successfully by means of transjugular interventions. 5 children remain free of symptoms to this day, one child underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation 8 months after TIPSS.

TIPSS insertion is technically more difficult in children and has to consider child growth and possible subsequent liver transplantation. Potential indications are recurrent variceal bleeding, also of intestinal origin, resistant to standard treatment and clinically significant hypersplenism.