Treatment outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization versus transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for gastric variceal bleeding

There have been few studies comparing percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization (PTVE) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for the prevention of recurrent gastric variceal bleeding (GVB). Compare the outcomes of these 2 procedures in patients with GVB. A total of 74 cirrhosis patients with GVB who underwent TIPS and modified PTVE were enrolled. The rebleeding and mortality rates, portal vein pressure (PVP) variation, and rates of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) were compared between the 2 groups. A total of 43 PTVE and 31 TIPS patients were enrolled in this study. The difference of rebleeding rate in the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P=. 190). The difference of early rebleeding rates and cumulative rebleeding-free rates were all not statistically significant (P=. 256, P=. 200). The difference of mortality rates in the 2 groups was not statistically significant (chi(2)= 1.206, P=. 272). The rate of HE in TIPS group was statistically higher than that in PTVE group (P<. 0001). Both PTVE and TIPS were effective for preventing rebleeding of GVs. There were no significant differences in rebleeding and mortality rates. The incidence of HE after TIPS was higher than PTVE.