Ultra‐Large Spontaneous Portosystemic Shunt is Correlated With a Higher Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Increased Risk of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Key Points

• The research aims to explore the relationship between the size of spontaneous portosystemic shunts and the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis patients.
• Analyzed correlations between shunt diameter and hepatic venous pressure gradient.
• Determined a cutoff size for shunts based on their diameter affecting portal pressure.
• Evaluated potential implications for clinical risk stratification in cirrhosis patients.
• A significant threshold was identified at shunt sizes exceeding 14.5 mm.
• Larger shunt sizes correlated with elevated hepatic venous pressure gradients.
• Increased risk of hepatic encephalopathy and liver dysfunction was noted for patients with larger shunts.