Mf. Muller et al., MR ANGIOGRAPHIC GUIDANCE FOR TRANSJUGULAR INTRAHEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT PROCEDURES, Journal of magnetic resonance imaging, 4(2), 1994, pp. 145-150
The authors used magnetic resonance (MR) angiography to guide catheter
placement in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) pro
cedures in nine of 18 patients and compared the results with those of
the nine patients for whom prior planning based on MR angiography was
not done. Two-dimensional time-of-flight MR venography was performed d
uring breath hold, and projection venograms were formatted in sagittal
, coronal, and axial planes. MR angiography defined venous anatomy suf
ficiently to shorten the procedure and help minimize invasiveness. Wit
h MR angiographic guidance, intrahepatic needle punctures were signifi
cantly fewer (without MR guidance: mean, 12.1; with MR guidance: mean,
3.6; P < .001) and associated complications were absent (without MR g
uidance: failed placement, n = 1; bleeding requiring blood transfusion
s, n = 1; death due to intraperitoneal hemorrhage with hemobilia, n =
1; and death due to hepatic capsular perforation, n = 1). The average
time for the procedure was 2.9 hours without MR angiographic guidance
and 1.8 hours with MR angiographic guidance (P < .001). The authors co
nclude that MR angiography is a useful technique for defining portal a
nd hepatic venous anatomy before the TIPS procedure and that planning
based on MR angiography may decrease the difficulty and length of the
procedure.