[Historical and conceptional aspects of TIPSS]

The concept of a percutaneous approach to portosystemic shunting to treat variceal bleeding from portal hypertension dates back to the 60s. However, the clinical realization of this idea was based on the development of metallic endoprotheses (stents), which were essential for long-term patency of a parenchymal tract between the portal circulation and (systemic) hepatic veins that was created by a percutaneous transjugular approach (TIPSS: transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt). The first clinical success of TIPSS was achieved in 1988 at the University of Freiburg, Germany. Since then, however, the concept and methodology of TIPSS have been constantly refined, so that this method has become a standard procedure for the interventional radiologist.