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Polyurethane-coated Dacron-covered stent-grafts for TIPS: results in swine
R Bloch1, D Pavcnik, B T Uchida
1Dotter Interventional Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA.
Purpose:
To evaluate shunt patency after placing a new polyurethane-coated Dacron-covered spiral Z stent-graft to create a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
Methods:
TIPS stent-grafts were placed in six young swine, using polyurethane-coated, Dacron-covered spiral Z stent-grafts. Animals were followed weekly by transhepatic portal venography until shunt occlusion or up to 6 weeks, then were sacrificed for gross and histologic evaluation.
Results:
Five of six TIPS stent-grafts were found to be occluded by 3 weeks and none were patent at 6 weeks. Histologic evaluation demonstrated a marked foreign body reaction with superimposed thrombosis occluding the graft lumen.
Conclusion:
Polyurethane-coated Dacron-covered stent-grafts do not improve TIPS patency.