TIPSS
Last reviewed 01/2018
This is an intrahepatic procedure which is used for:
- the treatment of acute oesophageal variceal bleeds which fail to respond to drugs or sclerotherapy
- the prevention of variceal bleeds
The advantages of TIPSS include:
- abdominal anatomy is not disturbed which makes subsequent liver transplantation easier
- it is a minimally invasive technique
The procedure comprises:
- puncture of the right internal jugular
- cannulation of the hepatic vein with screening
- the passage of a biopsy needle through the parenchyma of the liver into a large branch of the hepatic portal vein
- the use of angioplasty balloons and metallic stents to enlarge and maintain the porta-systemic shunt