The role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for treatment of portal hypertension and its complications: a conference sponsored by the National Digestive Diseases Advisory Board.

TIPS is a new and exciting modality for treatment of portal hypertension and its complications. Indications for TIPS remain to be better defined in terms of efficacy and cost-benefit in relationship to other established modes of therapy of portal hypertension. Prospective, randomized controlled trials are needed for these comparisons. Until the role of TIPS in the routine management of the complications of portal hypertension is better defined, TIPS should be used only in situations in which conventional medical and endoscopic therapies have failed.