"Early TIPS Versus Glue Obliteration to Prevent Rebleeding From Gastric Varices"

The TIPS is placed under radiologic guidance. A branch of the intrahepatic portal vein is punctured; afterwards, the splenic vein is catheterized so that a portal venography and pressure measurements can be performed. Then, the parenchymal track is dilated and a stent is placed. A final portography and pressure measurement in the main portal vein and the inferior caval vein are performed.

The standard protocol uses cyanoacrylate and lipiodol in 1:1 ratio injecting with no more than 1 mL at the varix each time. In most cases, cyanoacrylate is usually extruded into the stomach lumen within 1-3 months after injection. The French observational survey observed that a large majority (78%) of practitioners diluted glue with lipiodol and most (68%) proposed a proportion of glue to lipiodol of 1:1 the total volume injected per varix (from 1mL to 20 mL) varied substantially. Regarding the type of glue, although the majority of published data concern Histoacryl®, nearly half of practitioners used Glubran®. This lack of preference for one glue over the other may be explained by the fact that only Glubran® is approved in this indication in Europe.