tube (catheter) is inserted into the vein and is guided down to the liver veins using X-ray imaging. The catheter contains a small balloon and a stent that will be left behind to create the shunt.
A needle is used to create a passage between the hepatic vein and a branch of the portal vein.2
The catheter balloon is then inflated with a small amount of saline to expand the metal stent (which creates the shunt).
Then the balloon is deflated.
Vein pressures are measured throughout the procedure to
What Is TIPS?
