Portal Inflow Modulation Prior to Liver Transplantation in Patients With Increased Risk of Intraoperative Blood Loss

NCT ID: NCT07111221

Last Updated: 2025-08-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

104 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-06-24

Study Completion Date

2029-12-31

Brief Summary

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Liver transplantation is a procedure associated with an exceptionally high risk of blood loss. Liver failure, which is the most common indication for transplantation, not only leads to coagulation disorders but also to the development of portal hypertension. As a result, collateral circulation forms within the abdominal venous system, significantly increasing the risk of massive intraoperative blood loss. The number of intraoperatively transfused units of red blood cell concentrate is one of the main predictors of serious complications and postoperative mortality.

Patients with portal hypertension awaiting liver transplantation should be treated with non-selective β-blockers, which reduce pressure in the portal system. This is primarily justified by the need to prevent esophageal variceal bleeding, one of the most common causes of decompensation in chronic liver failure and a potential cause of death while awaiting liver transplantation.

According to the Baveno VII guidelines, if bleeding recurs despite the use of non-selective β-blockers, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) should be considered. Significant reduction of portal pressure is observed in up to 50% of patients treated with propranolol and up to 75% with carvedilol. TIPS effectively prevents bleeding caused by portal hypertension.

However, recommendations for pre-transplant management of portal hypertension do not address the reduction of blood loss risk during liver transplantation. Previous studies evaluating the use of TIPS before transplantation primarily confirmed its safety and showed no significant increase in intraoperative risk. One analysis even suggested using TIPS in all patients with portal hypertension awaiting liver transplantation. Although some studies have addressed the issue of blood loss during transplantation, they were observational and retrospective, without distinguishing patients at particularly high risk of massive blood loss. So far, the effectiveness of TIPS in reducing blood loss during liver transplantation has not been confirmed-nor have studies reliably excluded such potential.

The objective of the study is to directly compare the effectiveness of two different methods of modulating portal hypertension in the context of the risk of massive blood loss during liver transplantation.

We hypothesize that the superior effectiveness of TIPS in significantly reducing portal hypertension may lead to a significant decrease in blood loss and the need for transfusion of blood products in patients at high risk of massive blood loss.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Liver Cirrhosis Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Non-selective beta blockers

Non-selective beta blockers for treatment of portal hypertension

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-selective beta-blockers

Intervention Type DRUG

Non-selective beta-blockers for lowering portal hypertension

Non-selective beta blockers + TIPS

Non-selective beta blockers and TIPS for treatment of portal hypertension

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt performed prior to liver transplantation in patients with increased risk of intraoperative blood loss

Non-selective beta-blockers

Intervention Type DRUG

Non-selective beta-blockers for lowering portal hypertension

Interventions

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Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt performed prior to liver transplantation in patients with increased risk of intraoperative blood loss

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Non-selective beta-blockers

Non-selective beta-blockers for lowering portal hypertension

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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TIPS NSBBs

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Qualification for elective liver transplantation from a deceased donor
* Age ≥18 years
* BMI between 18.5 kg/m² and 30 kg/m²
* Informed consent to participate in the study
* Clinically significant portal hypertension
* At least 1 of the following risk factors for massive blood loss:
* Re-transplantation
* Previous surgery in the upper abdomen
* History of esophageal variceal bleeding
* History of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
* Planned thrombectomy during liver transplantation

Exclusion Criteria

* Heart failure (EF \<50%)
* Severe right ventricular failure
* Severe pulmonary hypertension
* Systemic infection
* Portal vein thrombosis (Yerdel \>1)
* Severe coagulopathy (INR \>5)
* Thrombocytopenia \<20,000/ml
* Severe or uncontrolled encephalopathy (ammonia concentration \>100 μmol/l)
* Contraindication to TIPS
* Contraindication to therapy with non-selective beta-blockers
* Pregnancy
* Lack of informed consent to participate in the study
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Medical Research Agency, Poland

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Medical University of Warsaw

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw

Warsaw, , Poland

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Poland

Central Contacts

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Wacław Hołówko, dr hab. n. med.

Role: CONTACT

+48 667 667 044

Zuzanna Łuczak

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Wacław Hołówko, dr hab. n. med.

Role: primary

+48 667 667 044

Other Identifiers

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ABM32

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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