To evaluate the impact of the developing of portal vein after TIPS and liver volume on liver function and incidence of HE.

94 patients with liver cirrhosis portal hypertension underwent TIPS, were grouped according to preoperative liver function Child-Pugh classification, liver volume and the immediate portal vein development after TIPS. Follow-up was performed at 3 months, 6 months and1 year. Liver function and the incidence of HE were compared among the groups.

The liver function of patients with TIPSS has been to various degrees damaged, but most of them could recover gradually. One case occurred liver function damage progress, eventually complicated by pneumonia and died of multiple organ failure. One case died of intraperitoneal hemorrhage 3 days after TIPSS. The incidence of HE in liver function Child A group, Child B group and Child C group were 10%(3/30), 19.23%(10/52) and 41.67%(5/12) respectively, the incidence of HE in Child C was apparently higer than those of Child A and B, but there were no statistical differences (P>0.05). The incidence of HE in group A with good immediate developing of portal vein was 17.81%(13/73), and that in group B with poor immediate developing of portal vein was 23.81%(5/21), without statisfical difference (P>0.05).The incidence of HE in liver volume A group and liver volume B group were 9.52%(4/42) and 26.92%(14/52) with statisfical difference (P<0.05).

The immediate developing of portal vein after TIPS was not significantly correlated with the incidence of HE.The smaller the liver volume, the higher the incidence of HE.