Comparing two shunt sizes to prevent bleeding in cirrhosis patients

This trial is testing whether using a smaller shunt (a tiny tube placed inside your blood vessels) works just as well as a standard-sized shunt at preventing life-threatening bleeding from enlarged veins in the food pipe and stomach. The study wants to find out if the smaller shunt can do its job while causing fewer serious side effects, particularly a brain condition called hepatic encephalopathy that can happen after this procedure.

A procedure called TIPS (a special shunt) is very helpful at stopping dangerous bleeding in patients with severe liver disease, but it can cause serious complications—especially brain problems from toxins that aren't being cleaned out by the damaged liver. Doctors believe using a smaller shunt might reduce these complications while still working well to prevent the bleeding from coming back.