Introduction The ideal management of variceal bleeding in the setting of acute alcoholic hepatitis is unclear. We present the outcome of this subgroup of patients in a cohort of patients treated with primary TIPS for variceal bleeding.

Methods A retrospective analysis on patients who had TIPS procedure performed as a primary treatment modality within 72 h of acute variceal bleeding from December 2010 to April 2013 with a minimum of 6 months follow up was performed.

Results 56 patients were included into the final analysis. In AH patients (n = 18) mean age was 48 years (30–65), mean discriminant function (DF) was 51 (24–87) and mean MELD score was 22. The 6 month mortality was 50%(9/18) with (7/9) dying within 30 days. The median HVPG (mmHg) pre-TIPS and post-TIPS were 16.5 and 6.5 respectively. In non-AH patient (n = 38) average age was 51y (25–70) mean MELD score was 14 (22–7). The mortality was 13% (5/38) at 6 months, (3/5) died by day 30. The median HVPG (mmHg) pre-TIPS and post-TIPS was 23 and 10 respectively.

Conclusion In patients with variceal bleeding complicating AH there is a higher 30 day and 6 month mortality in patients managed with a primary TIPS in comparison to patients with cirrhosis. The ideal management of this complex group remains unclear.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared.