Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt and liver transplantation--how safe is the bridge?

Many of the current indications for use of transjugular intrahepatic stent-shunts are also indications for consideration of orthotopic liver transplantation. Tripathi et al. report a similar operative mortality and early graft function in a series of cases transplanted with a TIPSS compared to apparently matched controls, although a higher frequency of post-operative renal dysfunction.