What Is It?
The Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) procedure is a medical intervention used to treat complications of portal hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the portal vein system, often due to liver cirrhosis. Portal hypertension can lead to serious complications such as variceal bleeding (bleeding from enlarged veins in the esophagus or stomach) or refractory ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen).
How is the Procedure Performed?
Through a small incision in the neck, a shunt (a small tunnel) is created within the liver to connect the portal vein (which carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver) to one of the hepatic veins (which carry blood from the liver back to the heart). This shunt allows blood to bypass the liver, reducing pressure in the portal vein system and thus lowering the risk of bleeding from varices and decreasing ascites.
This procedure is usually completed in an hour or two but may take up to several hours depending on the complexity of the condition and vascular anatomy. Some interventional radiologists prefer performing this procedure while the patient is under general anesthesia, while some prefer conscious sedation for their patient.
How Do I Prep For The Procedure?
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight (12:00 am) the night before your procedure. You may take medications with a sip of water in the morning. Bring a list of all prescribed medications with you to the procedure. These procedures are performed in a hospital setting and require overnight stay.
What Happens After The Procedure?
After the procedure, you will be monitored closely and your head will be kept elevated for a few hours. Often, symptoms are mild or controlled enough that the procedure can be done electively and patients may go home the next day. If your TIPS is being performed emergently for significant bleeding you will typically be monitored in intensive care beforehand and during recovery.
You should be able to resume your normal activities in 7-10 days.
Follow-up ultrasounds will be performed frequently after the TIPS procedure to make sure that it remains open and functions properly.
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1055 Post Road, Suite 150
Fairfield, CT 06824
Fax 203.380.3252
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