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Description
We present a 50-year-old man with history of end-stage liver disease secondary to hepatitis C, who frequently presents to the hospital with ascites. He recently underwent Trans jugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) stent placement after becoming resistant to diuresis and large volume therapeutic paracentesis. He presented to the emergency room with altered mental status due to hepatic encephalopathy. On physical exam, he was noted to have a systolic murmur; hence, a transthoracic echocardiogram was ordered. It showed an echo dense ring-like shadow in the right atrium close to intra-atrial septum (figure 1). Transoesophageal echocardiogram was obtained for better visualisation, and it showed a migrated TIPS stent entering the right atrium from the inferior vena cava with its cephalad end close to the intra-atrial septum (figure 2). There was no evidence of mechanical complication related to stent migration by echocardiography. The patient declined percutaneous retrieval. He was doing fine on subsequent follow-ups.
Transthoracic echocardiogram, apical four view, showing right atrial ring-like structure (white arrow) close to the intra-atrial septum. LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; SVC, superior vena cava.
Transoesophageal echocardiogram, transcaval view, showing cephalad end of the migrated stent (white arrow) in the right atrium close to the intra-atrial septum.
Stent misplacement and migrations are rare but potentially life-threatening complications of TIPS. Prior case reports in the literature show that stents displaced to distal areas such as right atrium, right ventricle and pulmonary artery. It can also cause conduction abnormalities, valvular damage, perforation and death.1–3
Literature review showed one similar case diagnosed by echocardiography in a 57-year-old male patient, who had cardiac ectopy, where the misplaced stent did not cause acute mechanical complication and was managed in the outpatient setting.2
Our case highlights the role of echocardiography to diagnose such complication of TIPS procedure and evaluate for its consequences. Echocardiography could also help guide the treatment approach including endovascular or surgical stent retrieval.3
Learning points
Stent misplacements and migrations are rare complication of Trans jugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt procedure.
Echocardiography is a helpful tool in diagnosing and guiding treatment options.
Percutaneous retrieval is feasible and can prevent fatal complication of stent migration.
Footnotes
Contributors MA and SV wrote the initial manuscript. MD and AKAKT conducted the literature review and edited the paper, including image editing and paper design. MA and SV contributed to data collection and image editing as well. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.