Hi 1 1/2 yrs ago mymom was diagnosed with advanced cirrohsis of liver caused by Hep-B.her ascites has become unresponsive to the diuretics .Doc has suggested for the TIPS procedure.Could you tell me about it,its sucess rate ,risk involved and the cost for it.
Hi there, Im sorry to hear about your mothers' diagnosis.  TIPS for ascites has an excellent success rate, with 90% of patients having a good response and decreasing the amount of paracentesis they have.  The most significant risk is worsening of encephalopathy (altered mental status). This can vary, but usually can occur in up to 20% of patients with cirrhosis. Again, this depends on how advanced her disease is. Another complication is that the stent can become thrombosed (clotted) which would require another procedure. Finally, there are risks such as bleeding and infection, but significant bleeding and infection risks are low, likely under 5%.