What Is Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 4 min read
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TIPS Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to create new connections between two blood vessels in your liver. You may need this procedure if you have severe liver problems. Description This is not a surgical procedure. It is done by a radiologist using x-ray ....

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

এই তথ্য শিক্ষা ও সচেতনতার জন্য। এটি ডাক্তারি পরীক্ষা, রোগ নির্ণয় বা প্রেসক্রিপশনের বিকল্প নয়।

Article Summary

TIPS Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to create new connections between two blood vessels in your liver. You may need this procedure if you have severe liver problems. Description This is not a surgical procedure. It is done by a radiologist using x-ray . A radiologist is a doctor who uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases. You will be asked to lie...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Description in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Why the Procedure Is Performed in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Risks in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Before the Procedure in simple medical language.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.
Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

  • Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
  • New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
  • Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.
1

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

2

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

3

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

TIPS

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to create new connections between two blood vessels in your liver. You may need this procedure if you have severe liver problems.

Description

This is not a surgical procedure. It is done by a radiologist using x-ray . A radiologist is a doctor who uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases.

You will be asked to lie on your back. You will be connected to monitors that will check your heart rate and blood pressure.

You will probably receive local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. This will make you pain-free and sleepy. Or, you may have general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free).

During the procedure:

  • The doctor inserts a catheter (a flexible tube) through your skin into a vein in your neck. This vein is called the jugular vein. On the end of the catheter is a tiny balloon and a metal mesh stent (tube).
  • Using an x-ray machine, the doctor guides the catheter into a vein in your liver.
  • Dye (contract material) is then injected into the vein so that it can be seen more clearly.
  • The balloon is inflated to place the stent. You may feel a little pain when this happens.
  • The doctor uses the stent to connect your portal vein to one of your hepatic veins.
  • At the end of the procedure, your portal vein pressure is measured to make sure it has gone down.
  • The catheter with the balloon is then removed.
  • After the procedure, a small bandage is placed over the neck area. There are usually no stitches.
  • The procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

This new pathway will allow blood to flow better. It will ease pressure on the veins of your stomach, esophagus, intestines, and liver.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Normally, blood coming from your esophagus, stomach, and intestines first flows through the liver. When your liver has a lot of damage and there are blockages, blood cannot flow through it very easily. This is called portal hypertension (increased pressure and backup of the portal vein). The veins can then break open (rupture), causing serious bleeding.

Common causes of portal hypertension are:

  • Alcohol use
  • Blood clots in a vein that flows from the liver to the heart
  • Too much iron in the liver ( hemochromatosis )
  • Hepatitis B or hepatitis C

When portal hypertension occurs, you may have:

  • Bleeding from veins of the stomach, esophagus, or intestines ( variceal bleeding )
  • Buildup of fluid in the belly ( ascites )
  • Buildup of fluid in the chest (hydrothorax)

This procedure allows blood to flow better in your liver, stomach, esophagus, and intestines, and then back to your heart.

Risks

Possible risks with this procedure are:

  • Damage to blood vessels
  • Fever
  • Hepatic encephalopathy (a disorder that affects concentration, mental function, and memory, and may lead to coma)
  • Infection, bruising, or bleeding
  • Reactions to medicines or the dye
  • Stiffness, bruising, or soreness in the neck

Rare risks are:

  • Bleeding in the belly
  • Blockage in the stent
  • Cutting of blood vessels in the liver
  • Heart problems or abnormal heart rhythms
  • Infection of the stent

Before the Procedure

Your doctor may ask you to have these tests:

  • Blood tests ( complete blood count , electrolytes , and kidney tests)
  • Chest x-ray or EKG

Tell your heath care provider:

  • If you are or could be pregnant
  • Any medicines you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription (your doctor may ask you to stop taking blood thinners like aspirin, heparin, or warfarin a few days before the procedure)

On the day of your procedure:

  • DO NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the procedure.
  • Ask your doctor which medicines you should still take on the day of the procedure. Take these drugs with a small sip of water.
  • Take a shower the night before or the morning of the procedure.
  • Arrive on time at the hospital.
  • You should plan to stay overnight at the hospital.

After the Procedure

After the procedure, you will recover in your hospital room. You will be monitored for bleeding. You will have to keep your head raised.

There is usually no pain after the procedure.

You will be able to go home when you feel better. This may be the day after the procedure.

Many people get back to their everyday activities in 7 to 10 days.

Your doctor will probably do an ultrasound after the procedure to make sure the stent is working correctly.

You will be asked to have a repeat ultrasound in a few weeks to make sure that the TIPS procedure is working.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Your radiologist can tell you right away how well the procedure worked. Most people recover well.

TIPS works in about 80 to 90% of portal hypertension cases.

The procedure is much safer than surgery and does not involve any cutting or stitches.

 

Doctor visit helper

Prepare before seeing a doctor

A simple rural-patient checklist to help you explain symptoms clearly, ask better questions, and avoid unsafe self-treatment.

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

  • Write when the problem started and how it changed.
  • Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
  • Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
  • Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
  • Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
  • How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
  • When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

  • Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
  • Basic physical examination by a clinician
  • CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
  • Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
  • Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

  • Drink safe fluids and monitor temperature.
  • In dengue-prone areas, discuss CBC and platelet count when fever persists or warning signs appear.
  • Use tepid sponging for high fever discomfort; avoid ice-cold bathing.

OTC medicine safety

  • For fever, common fever medicine may be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.
  • Avoid aspirin/ibuprofen-like medicines in suspected dengue unless a doctor says it is safe.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
  • Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
  • Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

  • Fever with breathing difficulty, confusion, repeated vomiting, bleeding, severe weakness, stiff neck, or dehydration needs urgent care.
Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Medicine doctor / pediatrician for children / qualified clinician
Tests to discuss with doctor
  • Temperature chart and hydration assessment
  • CBC with platelet count if fever persists or dengue/other infection is possible
  • Urine test, malaria/dengue tests, chest evaluation, or blood culture only when clinically indicated
Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
  • Which tests are really needed now?
  • Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
  • Do I need antibiotics, or is this more likely viral?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: What Is Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area from the RX Article Professional Blocks panel.

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