Case Report
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2012; 18(48): 7405-7408
Published online Dec 28, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i48.7405
Delayed liver laceration following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal hypertension
Kai Liu, Xin-Xin Fan, Xu-Lin Wang, Xing-Jiang Wu
Kai Liu, Xin-Xin Fan, Xu-Lin Wang, Xing-Jiang Wu, Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Liu K and Wu XJ wrote the paper; Liu K, Fan XX and Wang XL analyzed the data; Liu K, Fan XX, Wang XL and Wu XJ performed the surgery.
Correspondence to: Xing-Jiang Wu, Chief Physician, Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medicine, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. wxj_wxj@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-25-80860037 Fax: +86-25-84803956
Received: June 17, 2012
Revised: September 26, 2012
Accepted: October 22, 2012
Published online: December 28, 2012
Abstract

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an acceptable procedure that has proven benefits in the treatment of patients who have complications from portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. Delayed liver laceration is a rare complication of the TIPS procedure. We describe a patient with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis, who suddenly presented with abdominal hemorrhage and liver laceration 8 d after TIPS. Few reports have described complications after TIPS placement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing delayed liver laceration. This potential and serious complication appears to be specific and fatal for TIPS in portal hypertension. We advocate careful attention to the technique to avoid this complication, and timely treatment is extremely important.

Keywords: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, Portal hypertension, Liver cirrhosis, Postoperative complications, Hemorrhage