For patients with portal hypertension, a TIPS procedure uses x-rays and ultrasound imaging to create a small hole in the portal vein (the vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver). A shunt or small tube is inserted into the hole. The shunt is then connected to one of the hepatic veins, creating another pathway through which blood can flow, thereby reducing pressure in the portal vein. This also reduces pressure in other abdominal veins, including those in the stomach, liver, esophagus and bowel.
TIPS can also be used to treat other conditions such as recurrent bleeding of the varices, refractory ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, and Budd-Chiari syndrome -- a clotting in the hepatic vein.
TIPS can also be used to treat other conditions such as recurrent bleeding of the varices, refractory ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, and Budd-Chiari syndrome -- a clotting in the hepatic vein.
