Semin intervent Radiol 2020; 37(01): 003-013
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3402015
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Emergent Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation in Acute Variceal Bleeding

Mithil B. Pandhi
1   Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
,
Andrew J. Kuei
1   Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
,
Andrew J. Lipnik
1   Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
,
Ron C. Gaba
1   Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2   Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Emergent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation is most commonly employed in the setting of acute variceal hemorrhage. Given a propensity for decompensation, these patients often require a multidisciplinary, multimodal approach involving prompt diagnosis, pharmacologic therapy, and endoscopic intervention. While successful in the majority of cases, failure to medically control initial bleeding can prompt interventional radiology consultation for emergent portal decompression via TIPS creation. This article discusses TIPS creation in emergent, acute variceal hemorrhage, reviewing the natural history of gastroesophageal varices, presentation and diagnosis of acute variceal hemorrhage, pharmacologic therapy, endoscopic approaches, patient selection and risk stratification for TIPS, technical considerations for TIPS creation, adjunctive embolotherapy, and the role of salvage TIPS versus early TIPS in acute variceal hemorrhage.