Rare liver procedure performed in Hubballi

Hubballi: A team of doctors from interventional radiology, gastroenterology, and hepatology units from KLE Suchirayu Hospital performed a trans-jugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPSS) on a patient suffering from liver cirrhosis, said to be the first such procedure done in north Karnataka.
Dr Sandeep Kambar and Dr Venkatesh HA told reporters that the patient was suffering from liver cirrhosis and his abdomen used to get filled with fluid again and again, which the doctors used to remove. The patient was not responding to any of the treatments, and his only option was a liver transplant. But in this case, that was also not possible because of his medical condition.
Hence, an alternative to transplant was planned, and it was decided to go with the TIPSS procedure. The procedure lasted an hour, and the patient recovered well, they said. The doctors said the procedure was performed as a bridge to transplantation. Now the patient may take up to three years before he can go for a transplant, they said.
The patient is a 60-year-old male from Hubballi.
Dr Kumbar and Dr Venkatesh said the procedure was a minimally invasive one and was performed by giving local anaesthesia.
They said this procedure is helpful for patients suffering from refractory ascites, varicose bleeds and hepatic hydrothorax.
Dr Ashok Kumar, Dr Manjappa, Dr Narendra Hiregoudar, and Dr Sagar Kolli supported the doctors perform the procedure. Chief executive officer of the hospital Dr Jaikishan and others were present.