Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in children with biliary atresia

Purpose: We retrospectively evaluated the technical and long-term clinical results of transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunts (TIPS) in children with portal hypertension and biliary atresia (BA). Methods: Nine children with BA and recurrent bleeding from esophagogastric and/or intestinal varices were treated by TIPS at the age of 34-156 months and followed-up in two centers. Different types of stents were used. Results: Shunt insertion succeeded in all patients, but in two a second procedure was necessary. Seven procedures lasted more than 3 hr, mainly due to difficult portal vein puncture. Variceal bleeding ceased in all patients; however, 16 reinterventions were performed in eight patients for clinical reasons (n = 11) and sonographically suspected restenosis (n = 5). Four patients underwent successful liver transplantation 4-51 months after TIPS and five are in good clinical conditions 64-75 months after TIPS. Conclusions: TIPS in children with BA is technically difficult, mainly due to periportal fibrosis and small portal veins. Frequency of reinterventions seems to be higher compared with adults.