| Summary: | Objective: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used for decompression of elevated
portal pressure; however, there are potential complications. The aim of this study was to compare the
risk of complications of TIPS in those who had an episode of infection within 6 months prior to TIPS
to those without an infection prior.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent TIPS at a single
transplant centre over 8 years. They were divided into two groups: patients without infection during
the 6 months prior to TIPS (n=349) and those with an infection prior (bacterial/fungal) (n=53). The
Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare continuous variables while chi-squared analysis and
Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to ascertain
the association between pre-TIPS infection status and likelihood of post-TIPS infection.
Results: In the group of patients who had an infection before TIPS, 26.4% (n=14) had an episode of
infection after the procedure, while in the group without infection prior, 16.2% (n=55) had an infection
after the procedure (p=0.047; odds ratio: 2.08). In the pre-TIPS infection group, 54.7% (n=29) had
an episode of portosystemic encephalopathy post-TIPS versus 39.6% (n=134) in the group without
infection before TIPS (p=0.046; odds ratio: 1.93).
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