Cirrhosis of the liver can cause high blood pressure on the stomach and intestines, which can cause stomach and esophagus bleeding. VITA physicians can perform Trans-jugular Intrahepatic Portal System shunting, or TIPS. This can lower the pressure on the stomach, and stop stomach bleeding.

A small incision is made in the neck, and a small catheter is inserted into the neck vein. X-rays are used to guide the catheter into the liver and into the portal venous system, and a stent is placed across the liver. This shunts blood around the liver, and lowers the blood pressure on the stomach. Sometimes, the catheter can even be guided into the bleeding veins, and those veins clotted with coils placed through the catheter.

Cirrhosis of the liver can also cause liver cancer. For treatment options, please refer to the section on Cancer Treatments.