Meta-Analysis
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2014; 20(10): 2704-2714
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2704
TIPS improves liver transplantation-free survival in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites: An updated meta-analysis
Ming Bai, Xing-Shun Qi, Zhi-Ping Yang, Man Yang, Dai-Ming Fan, Guo-Hong Han
Ming Bai, Xing-Shun Qi, Zhi-Ping Yang, Man Yang, Dai-Ming Fan, Department of Digestive Interventional Radiology; State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, Shannxi Province, China
Guo-Hong Han, Department of Digestive Interventional Radiology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, Shannxi Province, China
Author contributions: Bai M, Han GH and Fan DM designed the research and wrote the paper; Bai M, Qi XS, Yang ZP and Yang M performed the study; Bai M, Qi XS and Yang ZP analyzed the data.
Correspondence to: Guo-Hong Han, MD, Professor, Department of Digestive Interventional Radiology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, No.127 West Changle Road, Xi’an 710032, Shannxi Province, China. hangh2009@gmail.com
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Received: July 4, 2013
Revised: October 8, 2013
Accepted: November 2, 2013
Published online: March 14, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: We evaluated the effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) vs paracentesis on the liver transplantation-free (LTF) survival in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. Both the number of deaths and the time to death were considered in the present meta-analysis. We found that TIPS significantly improved LTF survival, liver disease-related death, recurrence of ascites, and hepatorenal syndrome; however, TIPS increased the risk of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy.