TIPS, an abbreviation for "transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt," is a tube-like structure that connects the portal vein, which transports blood from the intestines to the liver, to the hepatic vein, which returns blood from the liver to the heart. This procedure is mainly used for patients whose liver scar tissue obstructs the blood flow from the portal vein to the hepatic vein. This obstruction leads to increased pressure in the portal vein, a condition known as portal hypertension. Due to this heightened pressure, blood finds alternative pathways around the liver through small veins that link the portal vein with other veins in the abdomen, resulting in the formation of enlarged veins called varices.Varices often develop in the stomach and lower esophagus, where they are prone to severe bleeding, potentially leading to life-threatening exsanguination. TIPS offers an artificial route for blood to flow from the intestines, through the liver, and back to the heart, thereby lowering the pressure in the varices and preventing their rupture and bleeding. While there are various types of shunts that can be surgically implanted, TIPS provides a non-surgical method of establishing a portosystemic shunt. The procedure involves guiding the shunt down through a vein in the neck using imaging technology, and then placing it between the portal and hepatic veins within the liver.
