Alcohol Recidivism Following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement: Frequency and Predictive Factors

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and predictive factors for alcohol recidivism following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) placed in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

METHODS: One hundred ninety-nine patients who had a TIPS placed at a single institution for different indications in the setting of alcoholic cirrhosis were reviewed. Length of sobriety prior to TIPS placement and maintained sobriety at 1, 3 and 6-12 months after TIPS placement were recorded. Smoking history, substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidities were also recorded as was ascitic response to TIPS at 1, 3 and 6-12 months.

RESULTS: At 1 month 11/199 (5.5%) patients had experienced a relapse while, 20/199 (10.1%) had at 3 months, and 44/199 (22.1%) had at 12 months. There was no difference in ascitic response in those who did and did not relapse at 1 month (p = 0.57), 3 months (p = 1.00) or 1 year (p = 0.44). The mean time of sobriety at the time of TIPS placement for those who relapsed by 12 months was significantly less than those who did not relapse (5.11 (1.10-7.90) months vs 18.32 (8.63-48.12) months, p < 0.001). Concurrent psychiatric comorbidity (p < 0.001), substance abuse (p < 0.001), age less than 40 (p = 0.004) and smoking history at the time of procedure (p < 0.001) were also associated with alcohol relapse.

CONCLUSION: Recidivism is a frequent issue for patients following TIPS placement; those who have concurrent psychiatric comorbidity, substance abuse, smoking history are younger than 40 and shorter sobriety duration prior to TIPS may be at increased risk.