Transjugular Intrahepatic Portasystemic Shunt (TIPS) is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to treat portal hypertension, which is a condition characterized by increased blood pressure in the portal venous system connecting the intestines and the liver. Derived from the Latin roots "trans," meaning "across," "jugulum," meaning "throat," "intra," meaning "within," "hepatic," referring to the liver, "porta," meaning "gate," "systemic," pertaining to the entire body, and "shunt," meaning "divert," TIPS is performed to redirect blood flow in the portal system.
During the TIPS procedure, a radiologist inserts a stent, a tube-like device, across the jugular vein in the neck and guides it into the liver through the hepatic vein. This stent forms a pathway within the liver, connecting a branch of the portal vein to a branch of the hepatic vein, bypassing the liver sinusoids. By creating this shunt, blood flow is re-routed, decreasing the pressure within the portal venous system and alleviating symptoms associated with portal hypertension, such as ascites (abdominal fluid accumulation) and variceal bleeding (enlarged veins).
TIPS is typically recommended for individuals who do not respond to medical therapy or have complications of portal hypertension. The procedure is commonly performed with the guidance of imaging techniques like ultrasound, fluoroscopy, or computed tomography (CT). After the successful placement of the stent, periodic monitoring is necessary to assess its patency and effectiveness in reducing portal hypertension. TIPS carries risks such as hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to compromised liver function) and stent stenosis (narrow
