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D N Redhead

Publications and source records attributed to D N Redhead.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) insertion as a prelude to orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with severe portal hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of preoperative transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) on patients undergoing liver transplantation. DESIGN: A retrospective non-randomized comparative clinical study. SETTING: Tertiary referral institution. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four patients with liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension and gastro-oesophageal varices who underwent liver transplantation. INTERVENTIONS: TIPSS insertion had been performed preoperatively in 12 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative dissection times and blood transfusion requirements during liver transplantation. Postoperative complication rate. Cumulative patient and graft survival. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in outcome measures between patients with and without previous TIPSS insertion with respect to recipient hepatectomy times (mean 192 min (126-280) versus 196 min (145-254)), total operating time (mean 484 min (330-690) versus 486 min (370-580)), intraoperative blood transfusion (mean 11 units (2-29) versus 12 units (2-30)), intraoperative fresh frozen plasma transfusion (mean 9 units (1-16) versus 11 (2-23) units), patient survival (83% versus 92% cumulative 1-year survival), graft survival (80% versus 83% cumulative 1-year survival), or postoperative complication rates. CONCLUSION: TIPSS insertion is feasible and relatively safe as a 'bridge to transplantation' in patients who have had a variceal haemorrhage. There is little evidence that preoperative TIPSS insertion directly affects the performance of liver transplantation as TIPSS neither, hinders nor facilitates surgery or post operative survival. Although it is important that the potential hazards of TIPSS extension into the inferior vena cava or superior mesenteric vein be recognized, liver transplant surgeons need not be unduly concerned about the overall impact of TIPSS as it becomes more universally available in the management of variceal haemorrhage.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗

Longterm follow up of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) for the treatment of portal hypertension: results in 130 patients.

BACKGROUND: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunts (TIPSS) are increasingly being used to manage the complications of portal hypertension. This study reports on the follow up on 130 patients who have undergone TIPSS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients (81 male), mean (SD) age 54.7 (12.5) years underwent TIPSS. The majority (64.6%) had alcoholic cirrhosis and 53.2% had Childs C disease. Indications were: variceal haemorrhage (76.2%), refractory ascites (13.1%), portal hypertensive gastropathy (4.6%), others (6.1%). Shunt function was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography and two then six monthly portography and mean follow up for survivors was 18.0 months (range 2-43.5). RESULTS: The procedure was successful in 119 (91.5%). Sixty three episodes of shunt dysfunction were observed in 45 (37.8%) patients. Variceal rebleeding occurred in 16 (13.4%) patients and was always associated with shunt dysfunction. Twenty (16.8%) patients had new or worse spontaneous encephalopathy after TIPSS and 11 (64.7%) patients had an improvement in resistant ascites. Thirty day mortality was 21.8% and one year survival 62.5%. CONCLUSION: TIPSS is an effective treatment for variceal bleeding, resistant ascites, and portal hypertensive gastropathy. Rebleeding is invariably associated with shunt dysfunction, the frequency of which increases with time, therefore regular and longterm shunt surveillance is required.

Acute Disease↗

Colonic stricture in cystic fibrosis unmasked by successful transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS).

TIPSS was successfully performed in a 10-year-old female cystic fibrosis (CF) patient with bleeding gastric varices due to portal hypertension; precipitation of portosystemic encephalopathy later unveiled the presence of a latent colonic stricture associated with high potency pancreatic enzymes. The unusual sequence of events resulting from the co-existence of two CF pathologies are described, and the implications of treatment discussed.

Child↗

Transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic stent-shunt in the treatment of variceal haemorrhage.

The transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) is a side-to-side portocaval shunt, performed by interventional radiological methods, linking the hepatic and portal veins through the liver parenchyma with an expandable metal stent. The technique can be performed successfully in over 90 per cent of patients. The procedure-related mortality rate is about 1 per cent, mainly from intraperitoneal bleeding. The main indications for TIPSS insertion are control of acute variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis that is refractory to sclerotherapy and recurrent variceal haemorrhage despite sclerotherapy or band ligation. TIPSS insertion is followed by variceal rebleeding in about 10-20 per cent of cases, encephalopathy in 10-20 per cent, transient deterioration of liver function in 25-35 per cent and subsequent shunt dysfunction over a 6-12-month period in 15-60 per cent. The final place of TIPSS insertion in the management of portal hypertension is being evaluated in controlled studies, but its use in the treatment of uncontrolled variceal haemorrhage seems assured.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

A prospective evaluation of changes in neuropsychological and liver function tests following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was designed to assess changes in: (a) neuropsychological tests, measures of memory, quality of life and scores for anxiety and depression; (b) liver function tests; and (c) the relationship between these following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt for recurrent variceal haemorrhage, 12 matched patients with cirrhosis and variceal haemorrhage managed with variceal band ligation and 16 normal controls were studied. Patients in any of the groups who were clinically encephalopathic were excluded from the study. Serial changes in the conventional liver function tests and Indocyanine green clearance, and psychometric function (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, Quality of Life and the memory and reaction sub-tests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery) were measured prior to and 1, 3, 9 and 15 months following transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic stent-shunt. RESULTS: Over a mean follow up of 9.1 months in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt group (range 3-28), one patient (3%) developed clinically detectable encephalopathy. Sixty-seven percent of patients with cirrhosis showed evidence of subclinical encephalopathy as compared with the control population. Significant deterioration occurred in the reaction sub-tests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery in patients, both in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt group and the controls with cirrhosis, during follow up. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt was followed by significant deterioration in levels of anxiety and psychological component of the quality of life. The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test and the memory sub-test of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery did, however, improve significantly at 1 and 15 months after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin and indocyanine green clearance deteriorated significantly following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (p <0.001, p <0.001 and p <0.0001, respectively). Significant correlation was observed between changes in the indocyanine green clearance and changes in the complex and simple reaction time subtests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery (r = 0.6 and r = 0.66, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that about 67% of patients with cirrhosis were subclinically encephalopathic and that temporary deterioration occurred in the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery during follow up, both in patients having transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt and in the controls with cirrhosis. These parallel the changes in the liver function tests and indocyanine green clearance. Temporary deterioration was also observed in the Quality of Life and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt group, although the measures of memory improved. Further studies should address the biochemical mechanisms of these changes and the role of prophylactic measures.

Adult↗

Analysis of prognostic variables in the prediction of mortality, shunt failure, variceal rebleeding and encephalopathy following the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt for variceal haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyse prognostic variables predicting mortality, shunt insufficiency, variceal rebleeding and encephalopathy following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt for variceal haemorrhage. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with cirrhosis who successfully underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt for variceal haemorrhage were studied. Mean age was 54.8 years (s.e. 1.5); 41 were males and 27 were females. Mean Child score was 8.3 (s.e. 0.3). Cirrhosis was alcohol related in 47. The patients have been followed up for a mean of 10.8 (s.e. 1.1) months. The univariate association between 30 prognostic variables and post-treatment encephalopathy was tested by the Chi-squared or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and multiple logistic regression was used to test the significance of factors adjusted for one another. Cox's proportional hazard regression was used to test the univariate and multivariate significance of the other three outcomes. RESULTS: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt was performed successfully in 89.5% of patients. Twenty-two patients have died and eight have been transplanted. Fourteen patients died within 30 days of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt and death was predicted independently by hyponatraemia (p < 0.001) and by severe liver disease (Child C, p < 0.001). Eight patients died during follow up and survival in the long term was predicted independently by the presence of encephalopathy (p < 0.001) prior to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (p < 0.001). Shunt insufficiency was predicted by an initial portal pressure gradient of greater than 18 mmHg (p < 0.01). None of the variables analysed predicted variceal rebleeding. Encephalopathy following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt was only predicted indepedently by its presence prior to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that patients with severe liver disease and hyponatraemia are liable to die early, and the presence of encephalopathy prior to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt independently determines long-term survival. Patients in these groups should be considered high risk and worked up for orthotopic liver transplantation early. Shunt function in patients with an initial portal pressure gradient of > 18 mmHg requires close supervision. Encephalopathic patients should have smaller shunts and prophylactic measures to prevent worsening encephalopathy.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

Imaging: focus on hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation.

The choice of management for the patient with HCC hinges on precise localization and staging of the disease process. All the major imaging modalities are employed to achieve this end. US is frequently the initial means of detection of the lesion. Since percutaneous needling may lead to tumour dissemination, the temptation to proceed to imaging-guided biopsy should be resisted until a full evaluation has been completed and it is clear that neither curative surgery nor transplantation is a therapeutic option. CT scanning is considered to be superior to ultrasound both in detection and staging of the disease. A variety of modifications to the technique, including CT arterio-portography and lipiodol-CT, is used to obtain optimum results. The role of MRI has not yet been established but initial results suggest that this may be the optimum means of scanning the patient following percutaneous or intra-arterial therapy. Angiography is generally performed prior to resection and may be combined with the delivery of chemotherapeutic and embolic agents pre-operatively or as a definitive palliative procedure. Imaging-guided percutaneous alcohol is also a useful palliative measure where the lesion is small. In the majority of cases, resection is not feasible. In a selected few liver transplantation is an option. Imaging requirements of the potential liver transplant candidate depend on the nature of the underlying liver problem. A general assessment including a chest X-ray and US with Doppler imaging of the hepatic vascular structures is sufficient in the majority. In children with complex structural anomalies and in patients with bile duct disease or tumours, the full range of investigations is required. US, cholangiography CT and angiography may all be required in the diagnosis and management of post-transplant complications.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Case report: inferior vena caval thrombosis following severe liver trauma and perihepatic packing--early detection by intraoperative ultrasonography enabling treatment by percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy.

Patients with severe liver trauma present a major challenge in management. We report the successful treatment of a patient presenting with a severe liver injury. The detection of major inferior vena caval thrombosis by intraoperative ultrasonography enabled the use of a percutaneous thrombectomy device to facilitate dissolution of the thrombus.

Adult↗

The role of duplex and colour Doppler ultrasound in the follow-up evaluation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS).

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) is an effective means of controlling acute variceal haemorrhage. Shunt occlusion or stenosis occurs in up to 30% of patients within 6 months. It is important to detect these patients and intervene to prevent rebleeding. We have compared non-invasive Doppler ultrasound with the portal pressure gradient (PPG) at portography at 3 month follow-up in 23 patients. All patients with a shunt peak velocity greater than 90 cm s-1 (7 of 17 analysable results) had normal shunt function at portography (PPG < 12 mmHg). Portography may therefore be avoided in this group, although the majority of patients will still require portography for TIPSS follow-up assessment.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Case report: computed tomography features of complete splenic infarction, cavitation and spontaneous decompression complicating pancreatitis.

Splenic infarction is a rare complication of pancreatitis. We present the case of a 34-year-old woman, who had undergone previous drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst, and who represented with left upper quadrant pain. Absence of enhancement of the splenic parenchyma during contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) allowed confident diagnosis of complete splenic infarction. A later CT scan revealed splenic cavitation with spontaneous decompression into the stomach. The aetiology of these unusual complications of pancreatitis is discussed.

Acute Disease↗

A comparative study of emergency transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt and esophageal transection in the management of uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunts (TIPSS) have been shown to reduce portal hypertension consistently and have recently been reported to arrest active variceal hemorrhage. This retrospective and nonrandomized study compares the results of TIPSS with esophageal transection (ET) and devascularization in patients with uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage admitted to a single center with an interest in variceal bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and sixty cirrhotic patients have been referred with variceal bleeding over the past 7 yr. In 41 patients (15.8%), hemorrhage was uncontrolled despite two treatments with sclerotherapy. Thirty-eight patients were eligible for analysis. Nineteen were considered for ET and 19 for TIPSS. Patients in the two groups were well matched for age, sex, etiology of liver disease, and its severity and complications. They have been followed for 13 patient years (TIPSS-7, longest 20 months; ET-6, longest 23 months). Data for survival and rebleeding were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Seven of the 19 were considered unfit for surgery, and 12 underwent esophageal transection and devascularization. TIPSS was undertaken successfully in 17 patients, the Palmaz stent being used in 4 and the Wallstent in 13. Successful TIPSS reduced the mean portal pressure gradient from 22.2 (SE 1.2) to 9.7 (SE 0.7) mm Hg (p < 0.001). Mortality within 30 days of the initial bleed was 42% in the TIPSS group compared with 79% in the ET group (p < 0.05). Rebleeding occurred in 15.6% patients with TIPSS, compared with 26.2% in the ET group. Encephalopathy in the two groups of patients was not significantly different (TIPSS 25% and ET 22%). TIPSS was followed by active infection in 20% compared with 36% after ET. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the overall mortality in this group of patients is high whatever the type of treatment used. TIPSS can be performed successfully on these patients who are often not suitable for surgery. Mortality rates were significantly lower in patients treated by TIPSS. Compared with ET, TIPSS should be regarded as the preferred mode of treatment for uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis.

Case-Control Studies↗

Relationship between directly measured portal pressure gradient and variceal hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: It is commonly believed that variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension does not occur below a portal pressure gradient (PPG) of 12 mm Hg. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between directly measured portal pressure gradient and variceal hemorrhage. METHODS: The procedure of insertion of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) for variceal hemorrhage provides access to the portal vein and allows direct measurement of the portal pressure. Right atrial, inferior vena caval, and portal pressure were recorded, and the PPG was calculated (portal pressure-inferior vena caval pressure) in 48 patients undergoing TIPSS for variceal hemorrhage. RESULTS: PPG was reduced from a mean of 21.4 (6.4) before TIPSS to 10.6 (3.1) mm Hg after the procedure. Seven patients (14.7%) had a baseline portal pressure gradient of < 12 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not support the concept of a discrete bleeding threshold.

Atrial Function, Right↗

Caval filters.

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Humans↗

The acute and chronic effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate on portal haemodynamics in cirrhosis.

The effects of acute and chronic administration of isosorbide-5-mononitrate on portal and systemic circulation was studied in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Acute administration reduced the mean arterial pressure and hepatic venous pressure gradient (18.4 +/- 0.9 to 16.5 +/- 0.9 mmHg), whilst having a variable effect on azygos blood flow. The hepatic venous pressure gradient fell consistently only in patients in whom the azygos blood flow increased acutely. With chronic administration no reduction in mean arterial and hepatic venous pressure gradient was identified before rechallenge, despite a marked and consistent reduction in azygos flow (540 +/- 89 to 306 +/- 60 ml/min). Rechallenge with isosorbide-5-mononitrate in patients on chronic nitrate therapy reproduced the haemodynamic effects identified with acute administration, lowering mean arterial and hepatic venous pressure gradient (19 +/- 1.5 to 16.0 +/- 1.8 mmHg) with a variable effect on azygos flow. The wedged hepatic venous pressure was significantly lower than pretreatment values (19.9 +/- 1.6 compared with 23.4 +/- 2.1 mmHg). We conclude that acute nitrate administration lowers the hepatic venous pressure gradient, either by reducing portal venous inflow or by reducing portal-collateral resistance. Chronic administration reduces portal-collateral flow without consistently lowering the hepatic venous pressure gradient. No evidence of nitrate tolerance or tachyphylaxis was observed.

Adult↗

Cholecystobronchocolic fistula: a late complication of biliary sepsis. Case report of diagnosis and management.

A case of a 48 year old woman presenting with bilioptysis due to a cholecystobronchocolic fistula is reported. Bilioptysis is a rare complication of biliary fistulae, with a high mortality due to chemical pneumonitis. Bronchospasm and rapid respiratory failure may ensue if aggressive management is not adopted. The site of fistulation is established by cholangiography, preferably by the percutaneous transhepatic route. Continued biliary drainage can lead to closure of these fistulae, or allow sufficient improvement in clinical condition to allow definitive surgery to be performed electively.

Adult↗

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS): long-term follow-up.

We assessed the long-term efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) in 64 patients. Insertion was successful in 56 patients (87.5%). The reasons for its use were: variceal bleeding (49); ascites (6); portal hypertensive gastropathy (6); hypersplenism (2); and embolization of a spontaneous shunt (1). Fourteen patients were Childs A, 20 Childs B and 28 Childs C cirrhotics. Two patients were non-cirrhotic; one with amyloidosis and one with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis. Patients were followed clinically and radiologically (Doppler ultrasonography and routine portography at 6 months). During 33 patient-years of follow-up, 22 died, 12 during index admission (two were procedure-related) and nine were transplanted. Twenty-five patients are alive, with a mean survival of 7.1 (SD 7) months. Variceal rebleeding occurred in 10 patients (22.7%), one of whom died, and was always associated with shunt insufficiency (shunt thrombosis 2, hepatic vein stenosis (HVS) 1, intimal hyperplasia (IH) 4, dislocated stent 1, inadequate stent 2). Clinical encephalopathy was induced in seven patients (17.1%) following TIPSS. All responded to medical therapy, but two required reduction in shunt size. Ascites improved after TIPSS in 36 patients (87.8%), but reaccumulated in seven (17.5%), associated with shunt dysfunction in five (SBP 2, IH 3, HVS 2). Fatal sepsis occurred in two patients, and 14 other episodes of infection required antibiotics. TIPSS is a useful treatment for variceal bleeding, resistant ascites and portal hypertensive gastropathy. Shunt dysfunction and sepsis occur frequently, and regular surveillance is necessary.

Female↗