Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is often used as a rescue therapy in cirrhotic patients with variceal haemorrhage after vasoactive drug therapy and endoscopic ligation have failed. A randomised study compared this standard management with earlier TIPS within 72 hours after randomisation (and randomisation occurred within 24 hours of admission). The early use of TIPS was associated with significant reductions in treatment failure and in mortality.
Not sure what TIPS is? This video I found on YouTube explains it nicely..
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGA6KUgq7AI&feature=related[/youtube]
Early Use of TIPS in Patients with Cirrhosis and Variceal Bleeding
NEJM 2010;362:2370-2379