Portal hypertension is high blood pressure (hypertension) in the portal vein and branches. The portal system is located in the abdomen near the stomach and liver. Portal hypertension can occur when the liver is unable to process the blood from the bowels (due to liver failure or cirrosis), forcing the blood from the bowels to pool or force its way through other paths to return to the circulatory system. The fragile veins that often bear the brunt of the rerouting are likely to rupture under increased pressure.
A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creates a new path from the portal vein directly into the main venous system through a vein in the liver. It uses a flexible tube called a stent to form this new vessel.
TIPS is a catheter-based procedure that our doctors perform at Good Samaritan Hospital. The procedure takes about an hour and a short hospital stay is expected.