Gastric mucosal bleeding time was measured prospectively in 25 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension undergoing routine sclerotherapy. Age and sex-matched controls without liver disease were also studied. Correlations were sought between gastric mucosal bleeding time and age, platelet count, prothrombin time, skin bleeding time, Child-Pugh score, variceal size before sclerotherapy, and degree of portal hypertensive gastropathy. Gastric bleeding time was prolonged in 12% of the patients with cirrhosis (mean, 3.24 minutes; SEM, 0.476) and in none of the controls (mean, 3.0; SEM, 0.171). No correlation was noted between gastric bleeding time and any of the above variables. The results of this study indicate that gastric mucosal bleeding time is prolonged in cirrhosis but is an independent physiologic parameter unrelated to any of the above-mentioned variables.

Bleeding Time↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt.

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) is essentially a side-to-side portocaval shunt performed by interventional radiological methods which connects the hepatic vein to the portal vein via the liver parenchyma. It can be performed successfully in 85% to 95% patients. The procedure mortality is low (1% to 2%) and is mainly from intraperitoneal bleeding. Major indications for TIPSS are in patients in whom sclerotherapy for bleeding varices has failed, those who have recurrent variceal haemorrhage after sclerotherapy or band ligation and in patients with refractory ascites, hypersplenism and portal gastropathy. It has also been used in some patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome, portal vein thrombosis and cirrhotic hydrothorax. TIPSS is followed by variceal rebleeding and encephalopathy in about 10% to 20% of cases, deterioration in liver function in about 25% to 35% and shunt dysfunction in 15% to 60%. Further research should be directed at developing newer types of stents to prevent shunt dysfunction.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of chronic liver disease.

Although laparoscopy has been in use for a substantial length of time, it remains a much underused tool in the diagnosis of chronic liver disease. The purpose of this review is to assess the present practice of laparoscopy in order to define its place as a diagnostic tool for the hepatologist.

Chronic Disease↗