Safety and Effectiveness of a Novel Tips Access Set with Steerable Cannula in a Swine Model

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of the Liverty™ transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) access set, which has an ergonomic handle that allows for in situ cannula tip deflection and a distal steerable cannula angle, versus the COOK® Rosch-Uchida Transjugular Liver Access Set (RUPS-100) in healthy pigs.

Methods: Twelve pigs randomly underwent TIPS with the Liverty™ set or the RUPS-100 set. Three interventionalists performed 4 TIPS procedures, 2 with each set. The primary outcome was procedural success, defined as successful establishment of the intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and stent placement.

Results: The shunt was successfully established in 11 pigs. The procedural success was achieved in all 6 pigs in the Liverty™ group and 5 out of 6 pigs for the RUPS-100 group (Fisher exact test, P > 0.999). The mean duration of puncture was shorter in the Liverty™ group versus the RUPS-100 group (12.3 ± 4.5 min vs. 16.2 ± 8.5 min), but without significant statistical difference (two sample t test, P = 0.359). The cannula angle was adjusted 69% of passes in the Liverty™ group, which was significantly higher than that in the RUPS-100 group (12%, P = 0.004). Overall, the TIPS procedural performance was comparable between the groups. Both sets were safe. No intraabdominal hemorrhage, vascular injuries, tissue or organ injuries, porto-biliary fistula, biliary peritonitis, and infection or abscess occurred in either group.

Conclusion: The Liverty™ set is safe and has similar procedural metrics to the COOK® RUPS-100 set. It allows in situ adjustment of the angle of the stiffening cannula without increasing procedure time and lessens the occurrences of periprocedural complications.