1. < Transplants

Liver transplant: TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt)

Posted by seho @seho, Mar 23, 2019

I had a TIPs procedure 15 mos ago to control portal hypertension, ascites & bleeding. I have been fine since then & no longer qualify for a transplant . How long have others TIPs shunts lasted ?

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arqui02000 | @arqui02000 | Oct 5, 2022
In reply to @rosemarya "@seho I want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect and to thank you for reaching..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@seho
I want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect and to thank you for reaching out to this community with your question.

I am a transplant recipient (liver/kidney) and I had to look up TIPS ( transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) because I was unfamiliar with it from my own experience. As I was reading, I did learn that it is a procedure for diverting blood flow away from the portal vein. A shunt creates an opening between the portal vein and the hepatic vein, which carries blood from your liver to your heart to reduce pressure in the portal vein. It often stops bleeding from esophageal varices. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophageal-varices/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351544

As for myself, I did have esophageal varices, and they were closely monitored by my doctors prior to my transplant. I took medications to reduce the blood pressure and I needed to have elastic banding when I experienced some bleeding.
Your situation sounds positive because you have said you have been fine. While I wait with you to see if anyone has an experience to share about TIPS, I would like to ask if you were a candidate for a liver transplant before the TIPS? Do the doctors say whether you will be a liver transplant candidate in the future? What kind of follow-up is provided?

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Answer your question YES I had a liver transplant done 30 month ago for now NADODOL is the medicine doctor prescribe me to control the Portal HIPERTENCION But I was read a lot about the TIPS it is a bypass and direct the blood coming from your organ to the porta the question is that blood is passing the filter of the toxics which is the liver with that toxins going to your brain this can cause Encephalopathy AS as side efects it this is true???

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Oct 6, 2022
In reply to @arqui02000 "I don’t have a TIPS for now Doctor put me into NADODOL To reduce the portal..." + (show)
@arqui02000

I don’t have a TIPS for now Doctor put me into NADODOL
To reduce the portal
hypertension but he mention a TIPS so before doing a TIPS need to contact anyone with tips done and what is the side efects???

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@arqui02000, I am learning along with you.
Has your doctor indicated when you might expect to benefit from the medication? How is the progress being monitored?
How do you feel? Are you able to be physically active? Are there any dietary changes in order?

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1 reply
arqui02000 | @arqui02000 | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @rosemarya "@arqui02000, I am learning along with you. Has your doctor indicated when you might expect to..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@arqui02000, I am learning along with you.
Has your doctor indicated when you might expect to benefit from the medication? How is the progress being monitored?
How do you feel? Are you able to be physically active? Are there any dietary changes in order?

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not really but I believe his expectation should be at the end of this year ( reduce the risk of showing out the varices and reduce the Hypertension ) what they monitoring is thru the ENDOSCOPY and control that varices are not showing again for a third time. Are there any other want to monitored ? I am feel fine and I can do any for now as normal life, and all I control is the sugar and sodium as Potassium also

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arqui02000 | @arqui02000 | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @marinab "It was my husband (not me) who had TIPs last June. He is listed for a..." + (show)
@marinab

It was my husband (not me) who had TIPs last June. He is listed for a transplant but chances of that remote, hence his opting to have TIPs to improve his quality of life, particularly with ascites and related hernias. The last few months have been challenging as he developed severe Edema in his whole leg area but that is now almost gone with diuretics. Also his ascites has greatly lessened (he might have to go in every 3 or 4 months for fluid drainage, compared to every 4 weeks before TIPs). He is also feeling generally better so it looks like things are finally settling down.

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good to here your husband is doing fine with the TIPS why he has no chance of the transplant soon?

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1 reply
marinab | @marinab | Oct 8, 2022
In reply to @arqui02000 "good to here your husband is doing fine with the TIPS why he has no chance..." + (show)
@arqui02000

good to here your husband is doing fine with the TIPS why he has no chance of the transplant soon?

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@arqui02000 We live in Hong Kong and availability of transplant livers are minimal. It is not the culture for people to donate while living and families are not to keen on donating organs after a death. While he is on the transplant list his meld score is no where near enough to be give priority for a liver.

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1 reply
arqui02000 | @arqui02000 | Oct 9, 2022
In reply to @marinab "@arqui02000 We live in Hong Kong and availability of transplant livers are minimal. It is not..." + (show)
@marinab

@arqui02000 We live in Hong Kong and availability of transplant livers are minimal. It is not the culture for people to donate while living and families are not to keen on donating organs after a death. While he is on the transplant list his meld score is no where near enough to be give priority for a liver.

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Sorry to hear about less possibility to have a Transplant my liver transplanted start with CIRROCIS again but I have faith and keep fighting

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Oct 10, 2022
In reply to @marinab "It was my husband (not me) who had TIPs last June. He is listed for a..." + (show)
@marinab

It was my husband (not me) who had TIPs last June. He is listed for a transplant but chances of that remote, hence his opting to have TIPs to improve his quality of life, particularly with ascites and related hernias. The last few months have been challenging as he developed severe Edema in his whole leg area but that is now almost gone with diuretics. Also his ascites has greatly lessened (he might have to go in every 3 or 4 months for fluid drainage, compared to every 4 weeks before TIPs). He is also feeling generally better so it looks like things are finally settling down.

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@marinab, It sounds like your husband is feeling some positive results from the TIPS procedure. I had ascites and edema before transplant, and I remember the great relief after the fluid was drained. Even if the Paracentesis to drain the fluids, his current 3-4 months is a BIG improvement over the 3-4 weeks!
I am glad he is beginning to feel better. I bet that makes you feel better, too. Do you and he have to travel very far to get the fluid drained?

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1 reply
marinab | @marinab | Oct 11, 2022
In reply to @rosemarya "@marinab, It sounds like your husband is feeling some positive results from the TIPS procedure. I..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@marinab, It sounds like your husband is feeling some positive results from the TIPS procedure. I had ascites and edema before transplant, and I remember the great relief after the fluid was drained. Even if the Paracentesis to drain the fluids, his current 3-4 months is a BIG improvement over the 3-4 weeks!
I am glad he is beginning to feel better. I bet that makes you feel better, too. Do you and he have to travel very far to get the fluid drained?

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Yes we feel the TIPs has helped him feel better in general, especially now that the edema has subsided. He is doing well with the ascites - it's now been a month since his last fluid draining and while there is some fluid it has lessened hugely!
He is also eating much better and regularly since he does not feel bloated most of the time, so has been able to nourish himself with some healthy home cooked meals. I was always concened about malnutrition.
We are lucky that Hong Kong has a great social medical system and his is listed at Queen Mary Hospital which is reputed for its expertise in liver diseases. It is a 15 minute ride from where we live so very convenient.

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