Underdilated-stent Technique Improves Post-TIPS Encephalopathy

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a critical therapeutic approach for managing esophagogastric variceal bleeding and refractory ascites in decompensated cirrhosis patients. To date, hepatic encephalopathy (HE) remains one of the most common complications following TIPS procedures, and prediction and prevention of post-TIPS HE have always been a hotspot in the field of hepatology. However, no reliable clinical studies have confirmed that any drug or intervention can effectively prevent the occurrence of HE episodes following TIPS, including lactulose and rifaximin.

Underdilated strategy (UDS) was reported as an development technique proposed in recent years for TIPS procedures, which involves using a small-diameter balloon to dilate the puncture tract and subsequently implanted standard-diameter covered stent (e.g., 8 mm). This allows the stent to maintain a smaller diameter shortly after release, thereby reducing the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy during the postoperative period. Over time, the stent gradually dilates to its normal diameter within months. This period coincides with the higher incidence risk of post-TIPS HE, most commonly occurring within 6 months, especially within the first 3 months after TIPS. Therefore, theoretically, UDS can reduce the occurrence of post-TIPS HE. In terms of clinical research, however, there were still no high quality studies reported the advantages of this technique. Current reported clinical studies were all non-randomized controlled trials or retrospective studies, with low-quality evidence and sometimes contradictory findings.

The aim of this prospective randomized controlled clinical study is to evaluate whether administration of underdilated technology during TIPS can improve postoperative hepatic encephalopathy, without compromising the therapeutic efficacy of portal hypertension complications.