An early decission for PTFE-TIPS improves survival in high risk cirrhotic patients admitted with an acute variceal bleeding. A multicenter RCT

Despite advances in management of acute variceal bleeding (AVB), patients in Child-Pugh Class B with ongoing bleeding at endoscopy, while under vasoactive drugs treatment, or in Child-Pugh class C, have a high risk of treatment failure and a poor prognosis, despite the use of rescue TIPS. The present study was aimed at evaluating if an early decision for PTFE-TIPS in such high-risk variceal bleeders could decrease the probability of treatment failure and mortality. In 9 European centers, 63 high-risk cirrhotic patients with AVB, treated with vasoactive drugs + endoscopy (preferably EBL) were centrally randomized…