Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
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What is Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)?
A Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small mesh tube called a stent to create a new pathway for blood to flow through the liver. This new pathway can help lower blood pressure in the portal vein and reduce the risk of serious complications from liver disease.
University of Rochester Medicine interventional radiologists work closely with liver specialists, gastroenterologists, transplant team, and other experts to provide comprehensive care before, during, and after a TIPS procedure.
What Conditions Does TIPS Treat?
A TIPS procedure is most often used to treat complications of portal hypertension, including:
- Variceal bleeding — Varices, enlarged veins in the esophagus or stomach, can rupture.
- Refractory ascites — A recurring buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
- Hepatic hydrothorax — Fluid around the lungs.
- Other complications — including portal vein thrombosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome.
While TIPS does not cure liver disease, it can help manage serious complications.
What Are the Risks of TIPS?
Like any medical procedure, TIPS has potential complications, including:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Stent narrowing or blockage over time
- Changes in liver function
- Hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that can affect thinking, memory, and concentration because toxins build up in the bloodstream
Our Approach
Portal hypertension requires care from multiple specialists. At URochester Medicine, you receive coordinated treatment from a fully integrated academic health system.
Because every patient's liver disease is different, we develop an individualized treatment plan designed around your health goals and overall condition.
What to Expect During a TIPS Procedure
TIPS is performed by an interventional radiologist. Unlike traditional surgery, no large incision is needed.
During the procedure:
- You will receive anesthesia.
- A small catheter will be inserted into a vein in your neck.
- Using X-ray guidance, the physician will create a channel between two veins inside the liver.
- They will place a stent to keep the channel open.
The procedure usually takes between one and three hours. Patients typically stay in the hospital overnight or for several days.
After the procedure, your care team may recommend:
- Follow-up imaging
- Blood tests to monitor liver function
- Medication adjustments
- Regular appointments with your liver specialist
- Lifestyle changes to support liver health
What Sets Us Apart?
At University of Rochester Medicine, our patients benefit from the expertise of an academic health system where Interventional Radiology specialists work closely with liver disease experts and other specialists to provide the most advanced treatment available.
Our team offers:
- Fellowship-trained Interventional Radiologists with expertise in Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) procedures
- Advanced imaging technology to plan and perform complex minimally invasive procedures with precision
- Close collaboration with hepatology, gastroenterology, transplant surgery, oncology, anesthesiology, and critical care specialists
- Comprehensive evaluation before treatment and coordinated follow-up care to monitor long-term outcomes
- Access to specialized imaging, advanced liver care, and additional minimally invasive procedures when needed—all within one integrated health system
- Expertise in treating complications of portal hypertension, including refractory ascites and variceal bleeding
By combining advanced technology with multidisciplinary expertise and coordinated, patient-centered care, we help improve outcomes while supporting each patient's long-term liver health.
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