Comparison of a new stent and Wallstent for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a porcine model

AIM To evaluate a new balloon-expandable stainless steel stent (Cordis stent) in a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) porcine model and compared with Wallstent. METHODS TIPS was performed in 26 normal domestic pigs weighing 20 kg-30 kg using a Cordis stent or Wallstent (13 pigs in each stent). All pigs were sacrificed at the 14th day after TIPS. The stent deployment delivery system, stent patency, and stent recoil after placement were evaluated. Proliferative response in representative histological sections from the center, hepatic and portal regions of the two stent designs were quantified. RESULTS The shunt was widely patent in 4 pigs in the Cordis stent group (4/12, premature dead in 1 pig), and in 5 pigs in the Wallstent group (5/13). All remaining stents of both designs were occluded or stenotic. The mean quantified proliferation including thickness of the proliferation and the ratio of proliferation: total area in three assayed regions in Cordis stent and Wallstent was 2.18 mm:2.00 mm, and 59.18 mm(2):51.66 mm(2), respectively (P>0.05). The delivery system and mechanical properties of the Cordis stent fuctioned well. CONCLUSION The new Cordis stent is appropriate for TIPS procedure.