Compared with bare metal stents, the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered stent grafts for TIPS creation primarily results in:

• A Higher technical success rate of shunt creation itself
• B Lower incidence of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy
• C Elimination of the need for post-procedure Doppler surveillance
• D Reduced shunt dysfunction by limiting pseudointimal hyperplasia and bile leak into the shunt ✓

Explanation

Covered stent grafts improve primary patency because the fabric lining prevents bile ingress into the shunt lumen and limits pseudointimal hyperplasia, the two mechanisms responsible for bare stent dysfunction. They do not reduce encephalopathy, since the hemodynamic shunt itself is unchanged, and Doppler surveillance is still recommended. Technical success depends on operator skill and anatomy rather than stent covering.

Reference: Grainger and Allison's Diagnostic Radiology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.