Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt for medically refractory hepatic hydrothorax: A systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis

Figure 2 Response to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt. A: Forest plot shows that most [55.8% (95%CI: 44.7%-66.9%)] of the 198 patients in the 6 studies had a complete response (resolution of refractory hepatic hydrothorax without further need for thoracentesis) after TIPSS. There was no evidence of heterogeneity among studies (P = 0.99); B: About one-fifth [17.6% (10.9%-24.2%)] of the patients had only a partial response (defined as improvement in refractory hepatic hydrothorax symptoms and/or a decrease for the need for thoracentesis). There was no evidence of heterogeneity among studies (P = 0.65); C: Just over one-fifth (21.2%) of the patients had no improvement in refractory hepatic hydrothorax after TIPSS. There was no evidence of heterogeneity among studies (P = 0.76). TIPSS indicates transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt.