MR-guided Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation with Use of a Hybrid Radiography/MR System

• Published in: Journal of vascular and interventional radiology Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 227 - 234
• Main Authors: Kee, Stephen T., Ganguly, Arundhuti, Daniel, Bruce L., Wen, Zhifei, Butts, Kim, Shimikawa, Anne, Pelc, Norbert J., Fahrig, Rebecca, Dake, Michael D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Alloys; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fluoroscopy; Follow-Up Studies; Hemorrhage - etiology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic - adverse effects; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic - instrumentation; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic - methods; Punctures - adverse effects; Punctures - instrumentation; Radiography, Interventional - methods; Radiology, Interventional - methods; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional; GRE; SSFP; PV; TIPS
• ISSN: 1051-0443; 1535-7732
• DOI: 10.1097/01.RVI.0000143766.08029.6E

To evaluate the performance of a combined hybrid radiography/magnetic resonance (MR) unit to guide portal vein (PV) puncture during human transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. Fourteen patients undergoing TIPS creation were studied during standard clinical applications. Patients were anesthetized and then positioned in an open MR unit containing a flat-panel radiographic fluoroscopic unit. With use of a combination of fluoroscopy and MR imaging, the PV was accessed and the TIPS procedure was performed. A noncovered nitinol stent or a covered stent-graft was placed in the TIPS tract. Number of punctures required, total procedure time, fluoroscopy time, procedural success rate, complications, and ultrasono-graphic and clinical follow-up were recorded. Clinical success was obtained in 13 of 14 patients. In one patient, extrahepatic puncture of the PV occurred, resulting in hemorrhage and requiring placement of a covered stent to control the bleeding. The mean number of punctures required to access the PV was 2.6 ± 1.7, and the total procedure time was 2.5 hours ± 0.6. Mean fluoroscopy time was 22.3 minutes ± 5.5. Results of clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up compare favorably to previously published reports. TIPS creation with a combination hybrid radiography/MR unit is feasible and may reduce the number of needle passes required and radiation exposure, with similar overall outcomes compared with studies reported in the literature.