Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS): A Bridge to Bariatric Surgery in Morbidly Obese Patients with Cirrhosis and Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension.

Background: In cirrhotic patients, portal hypertension increases mortality after surgery. We evaluated the impact of pre-operative transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on the outcomes of bariatric surgery in cirrhosis.

Methods: Multicentric retrospective cohort. The decision for TIPS placement has been made according to hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) values and centers' policy. The primary outcome: 1-year decompensation-free survival; secondary outcomes: 1-year acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and survival.

Results: Fifty-three patients were included (2010-2022): 92% Child-Pugh A, MELD score 8, age 55 years, BMI 38.3 ± 13 kg/m², 9 (18%) had TIPS. At baseline, patients with TIPS had more esophageal varices (89% vs 10%, p < 0.001), more previous decompensations (22% vs 0%, p = 0.002), and a higher HVPG (14 vs 7 mmHg, p < 0.001). All patients in the TIPS group had clinically significant portal hypertension vs 11% of patients without TIPS, p < 0.001. One-year decompensation-free survival was 77.8% and 93.2% in patients with and without TIPS, p = 0.064. ALCF occurred in 3 patients (6.8%) without TIPS and none with TIPS. All patients were alive 1 year after surgery.

Conclusions: In patients with cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) undergoing bariatric surgery, TIPS placement was safe and had similar outcomes after surgery as patients without TIPS.