Study of virtual touch tissue quantification in noninvasive assessment of the effect of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt

Abstract

Objective To explore the feasibility of virtual touch tissue quantification(VTQ) technique in noninvasive assessment of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS).Methods Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study.Shear wave velocity(SWV) of the liver and spleen were obtained by VTQ technique on one day before TIPSS insertion and one week after TIPSS placement,and the portal vein pressure was measured while placing the TIPSS.The correlation between SWV of the liver and spleen and portal venous pressure were analysed.In addition,fourteen patients were followed up for one month after TIPSS placement.Results There was significant difference in portal vein pressure pre [(27.82 ± 4.07) mm Hg] and post [(16.26-± 3.10) mm Hg] TIPSS insertion.The SWV of the liver in patients pre and post TIPSS measured (2.43 ± 0.37)m/s and (2.40 ± 0.34)m/s,respectively.The SWV of the spleen in patients pre and post TIPSS were (3.49 ± 0.40)m/s and (3.08 ± 0.39)m/s,respectively,there was significant difference (P =0.000).However,SWV of the liver pre and post TIPSS placement was no significant difference(P =0.130).And as well as the patients which were followed up for one month after TIPSS placement.A significant,direct,linear correlation(r =0.602,P =0.000) was found between SWV of the spleen and portal vein pressure,but liver SWV was not correlated with the portal venous pressure.Conclusions SWV of the spleen measured by VTQ technique has a significant correlation with portal vein pressure.Hence,the spleen SWV based on VTQ technique can be used as a non-invasive method for quantitatively in monitoring the portal vein pressure as the function of the TIPSS.However,evidence to support a similar role for liver stiffness is lacking. Key words: Ultrasonography; Portosystemic shunt, transjugular intrahepatic; Hypertension, portal; Virtual touch tissue quantification