Reporting standards for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

IN the last 5 years, the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure has become widely disseminated. The number of interventional radiologists who are creating shunts has steadily increased as the procedure has become an accepted method of reducing portal vein pressure (1–28). Although the optimal technique for shunt creation continues to evolve, shunts can routinely be created in more than 93% of patients (5,8,13, 14,18,29). Accordingly, significant attention is now directed to the collection and reporting of prospective, standardized controlled data regarding the safety, efficacy, and patency of TIPS. The purpose of this document is to aid this process by recommending standards for reporting of TIPS data. At present, the most accepted indication for TIPS is for the treatment of recurrent variceal hemorrhage that is refractory or not amenable to endoscopic therapy. Other indications are being evaluated, such as refractory ascites. It is too early to reach a consensus on reporting standards addressing all uses of TIPS. Future addenda to this document will discuss other uses of TIPS as they become more established.