Surgical shunting versus transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunting for bleeding varices resulting from portal hypertension and cirrhosis: a meta-analysis.

Surgical shunting was the mainstay in treating portal hypertension for years. Recently, transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunting (TIPS) has replaced surgical shunting, first as a "bridge" to transplantation and ultimately as first-line therapy for bleeding varices. This study was undertaken to examine evidence from trials comparing TIPS with surgical shunting to reassess the role of surgery in treating portal hypertension.