The conundrum of covered versus bare stents for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: should we adopt the parachute approach?

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) are now routinely utilized for the treatment of the complications of cirrhosis-related portal hypertension: indeed TIPS has now a clear indication for active bleeding or to prevent rebleeding after failure of combined medical/endoscopic procedures; it is also indicated for refractory ascites and, at some extent in refractory hydrothorax in cirrhotic patients and type II hepatorenal syndrome.