Portal Anatomic Variants Relevant to Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation is an accepted treatment for portal hypertension. TIPS creation remains a challenging procedure because it involves the successful passage of a needle from a point of origin (hepatic vein) to a target point (portal vein) through the liver substance. An understanding of the anatomy of these two vascular beds facilitates overcoming the challenge of the spatial relationship between these two points. In this article the authors review the vascular and parenchymal anatomic variations, both congenital and acquired that impact the success of TIPS creation.