[Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the treatment of portal hypertension].

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) represents an important advance in the treatment of complications of portal hypertension. The results from the first 10 TIPS procedures in Arhus are reported. We found, as also documented in other clinical series, that TIPS is more effective in controlling acute haemorrhage than treatment with sclerotherapy and specific medical treatment. Seven out of 10 were treated for acute haemorrhage, and two patients were treated for recurrent variceal bleeding in spite of at least 20 procedures of sclerotherapy and pharmaceutical therapy. One patient was treated with TIPS due to refractory ascites. All 10 TIPS procedures were satisfactory, in four patients it was necessary to embolize collaterals. There were no acute complications associated to the TIPS procedures, but one patient developed stenosis of the shunt within one year, and another chronic encephalopathy. Two patients died, one because of sepsis with Candida albicans, and the other of intracerebral bleeding 16 months after the TIPS procedure.