Surgery Overview

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure in which a tube called a stent is placed to join two veins in a damaged liver. The portal vein carries blood to the liver. The hepatic vein goes from the liver to the heart. The stent allows some of the blood to bypass the liver.

What To Expect

You may go home the same day or the next day after a TIPS procedure. You may have some imaging tests to make sure the stent is open so blood is able to bypass the liver and lower the pressure in the portal vein.

Why It Is Done

TIPS is used to reduce high blood pressure in the portal vein that carries blood from the intestines to the liver.

TIPS may be used to:

• Treat fluid buildup that continues to happen even though other treatment has been tried. The buildup often happens in the belly. This is called ascites.
• Treat the bleeding that can happen when veins swell and break open because of the high pressure. This is called variceal bleeding. TIPS may be used when other treatments for the bleeding don't help or while you are waiting for a liver transplant.

Risks

Problems from a TIPS procedure may include:

• Changes in mental function (encephalopathy). This happens when the liver is less able to filter toxins from the bloodstream. The toxins build up in the bloodstream and cause problems in your brain.
• Problems with the stent, such as narrowing (stenosis) or closing (occlusion).
• Bleeding.
• Damage to the blood vessels.
• Heart problems.
• Infection.
• Liver failure.