Endotipsitis: An Underdiagnosed Complication of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts

Recurrent hematemesis and ascites due to portal hypertension are treated by Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) to decompress the portal system. Many causes can be attributed to fever in such patients, one of them being, endotipsitis. Awareness among the clinicians about the existence of such a condition needs to be enhanced to avoid underdiagnosis. The diagnosis of endotipsitis, a primary vegetative infection of the TIPS, requires a high index of suspicion. Here we describe one such case that presented with prolonged fever and sustained bacteremia with a history of TIPS thrombosis. After ruling out all possible causes of fever a diagnosis of probable endotipsitis was made and treated successfully with prolonged targeted antimicrobial therapy without further relapses. Only a handful of cases have been described in literature, and there is an urgent need to develop standard management guidelines. Because definitive treatment, which involves removal of the shunt requires liver transplantation, which is not practically feasible always.