Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for treatment of intractable colonic ischemia associated with portal hypertension: a bridge to liver transplantation.

A 64-year-old man with portal hypertension secondary to hepatic nodular transformation was awaiting liver transplantation when he presented with severe, unrelenting abdominal pain, fever, and hypotension. Computed tomographyrevealed pneumatosis within the cecum and ascending colon. Because of his advanced liver disease and the perceived high likelihood of a poor outcome after colonic resection, he was managed medically. He improved initially but had a lengthy hospital course notable for intractable intestinal ischemia and gastrointestinal bleeding. Magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated patent mesenteric, portal, and hepatic vessels. His blood pressure was typically 90/55 mm Hg (mean arterial pressure, 65-70 mm Hg) despite intravenous fluids and blood product replacement. The hypothesis developed that the patient's level of portal hypertension was sufficiently severe (in the face of his low mean systemic arterial pressure) to compromise perfusion of the colonic mucosa. Were this hypothesis correct, then portal decompression might enhance the blood pressure gradient across the bowel and improve mucosal perfusion. With this in mind, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was placed. There was reduction of the portal vein to inferior vena cava gradient from 29 mm Hg to 9 mm Hg and his abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding ceased. His prompt and sustained improvement following TIPS shunt placement is consistent with the hypothesis that high portal pressure was flow limiting, thus contributing to persisting intestinal ischemia. This case represents the first report of use of a TIPS shunt to address colonic ischemia associated with portal hypertension.