ICU and TIPS, our experience in a community hospital in spain

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a non selective portosystemic derivation created by endovascular techniques. A transhepatic comunication between one of the hepatic veins and a branch of portal vein is created using a needle system. Intrahepatic trajectory remains open by placing a metallic stent. TIPS is an effective method to relieve the portal system pressure. Portal hipertension is one of the major consecuences in cirrhosis, and its main complications are variceal bleeding, refractary ascites (RA) and hydrothorax. Being these ones the principal indications for TIPS. The complications related to the TIPS procedure are these related to the technique: access (capsular laceration, intraperitoneal bleeding, hepatic infarction, fistula, hemobilia) or stent (thrombosis, occlusion, migration, sepsis); or related to portosistemic shunt (hepatic encephalopaty (HE), hemodynamic failure, sepsis).