In a patient with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), what is a normal finding?

A normal finding in a patient with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is hepatopetal flow in the Main Portal vein. TIPS is a procedure that creates a channel within the liver to connect the portal vein to one of the hepatic veins, thereby reducing portal hypertension by allowing blood from the portal system to bypass the liver and flow into the systemic circulation.

In a healthy situation after TIPS placement, one would expect the Main Portal vein to have normal flow toward the liver (hepatopetal flow), indicating that despite the presence of the shunt, the portal system is still receiving blood flow in the typical direction. This normal hepatopetal flow indicates that the liver is still somewhat functioning to receive blood from the portal vein, even with altered dynamics due to the shunt. This flow direction signifies the maintenance of some normal hemodynamics in the liver despite the shunting.

Other scenarios, such as hepatofugal flow or no blood flow in the Main Portal vein, would suggest complications or dysfunction related to the TIPS or the underlying liver condition, which should not be present in a normal, well-functioning TIPS setup. Additionally, reversed flow in the hepatic artery would indicate a significant