Effect of underdilated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt on prognosis in patients with prior splenectomy: a propensity score-matched case-control study.

For patients with prior splenectomy, it is safe to employ underdilated TIPS, as the stents will eventually self-expand to 8 mm. The present study has shown some degree of liver function preservation in the underdilated group, which may be related to slower progressive changes in the portal hemodynamics.