Early Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation Compared to Endoscopy With Pharmacotherapy in the Management of Variceal Rebleeding in Cirrhotic Patients: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Presidential Poster Award

Abstract

Introduction: The use of early or rescue transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been evaluated in cirrhotic patients with a history of variceal bleeding. In this study, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the efficacy and safety of early TIPS in the management of variceal bleeding as well as comparing the use of early compared to rescue TIPS. Methods: Medical electronic databases were queried for clinical studies in which TIPS creation was compared with endoscopy and pharmacotherapy treatment in cirrhotic patients with a history of variceal bleeding. Search results were screened against predefined eligibility criteria and data were extracted to a standard data extraction form. Meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software and the risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane tool and modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale Results: Thirty-four studies that enrolled 2876 cirrhotic patients (n=1453 in the TIPS group and n=1423 in the endoscopy with pharmacotherapy group) were included. Overall analysis displayed significantly reduced re-bleeding, odds ratio (OR) = 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.22-0.38], p< 0.0001) and bleeding-related death (OR= 0.28, 95% CI [0.18-0.44], p< 0.0001) in the TIPS group. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between all TIPS and endoscopy with pharmacotherapy (OR= 0.93, 95% CI [0.74-1.16], p= 0.52) and there was an increased incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (OR= 1.80, 95% CI [1.41-2.28], p< 0.0001) in the TIPS group (pooled analysis of both early and rescue TIPS). Early use of TIPS did not reveal any differences in hepatic encephalopathy (OR= 1.27, 95% CI [0.9-1.7], p= 0.13) and showed a decreased mortality in high risk patients (Child-Pugh class C, Child-Pugh class B with active bleeding at endoscopy, and hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] ≥20 mm Hg) when compared to rescue TIPS. Conclusion: TIPS creation decreases rebleeding at the cost of increased hepatic encephalopathy with no survival benefit. Early TIPS creation may confer better clinical outcomes in terms of comparable hepatic encephalopathy and improved survival in high-risk patients when compared to rescue TIPS.