Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts for Refractory Hepatohydrothorax

Hepatohydrothorax occurs in 5% to 12% of patients with cirrhosis and is less common than other complications, such as abdominal ascites and variceal bleeding. First-line therapy typically entails sodium restriction and diuretics. However, in refractory cases, management is more difficult. Repeated thoracentesis and chest-tube placement, although effective, are associated with substantial risks, including pneumothorax and infection. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) is another treatment for refractory hepatohydrothorax, but most studies of this procedure involved relatively short follow-up periods and yielded conflicting results.

To examine long-term outcomes of TIPS in this setting, investigators retrospectively reviewed …