Table 2. Comparing Outcomes of TIPS vs. BRTO for Isolated Gastric Varices.
| TIPS (n = 27) | BRTO (n = 25) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procedural complications | |||
| Yes | 2 | 3 | 0.57 |
| Post procedure labs* | |||
| Mean # days after procedure | 64 (262) | 88 (117) | 0.68 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | 2.1 (1.4) | 3.7 (9.5) | 0.46 |
| INR | 1.5 (0.1) | 1.5 (0.4) | 0.98 |
| Serum creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.8 (0.3) | 1.0 (0.5) | 0.11 |
| MELD score | 13 (3.3) | 13 (6.4) | 0.97 |
| Change in MELD score | +1 (0.9) | 0 (3.6) | 0.21 |
| Clinical outcomes | |||
| New hepatic encephalopathy | 6 | 0 | 0.01 |
| New ascites | 1 | 1 | 0.96 |
| Rebleeding | 3 | 3 | 0.92 |
| Rebleeding from GV source | 2 | 2 | 0.94 |
| Mean follow-up (days)* | 917 (908) | 727 (533) | 0.03 |
*Numbers in parentheses represent standard deviation. BRTO = balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, GV = gastric varices, INR = international normalized ratio, labs = laboratory examinations, MELD = Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, TIPS = transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts