Effectiveness of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in Variceal Bleeding: An Audit from a Tertiary Care Center in North India

Variceal bleeding is one of the grave complications of cirrhosis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Approximately 30 to 70% patients with cirrhosis would have gastroesophageal varices with approximately one-third developing variceal bleed.1 Treatment options include control of bleeding locallywith endoscopic techniques along with vasoactive drugs and antibiotics and reduction in portal pressure using either surgically created shunts or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).2,3 Endoscopic treatments are preferred initially. However, these fail to control bleeding in asmany as 10 to 15% cases.4,5 TIPS can be highly effective alternative in such cases but can carry high mortality in the presence of poor liver function.6 The study was performed to assess the safety and effectiveness of TIPS in patientswithvariceal bleeding in a tertiary care center in North India.