Feasibility And Safety Of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) Creation Using A Radiofrequency Guidewire

A novel radiofrequency (RF) wire created by Baylis Medical (Montreal, CAN) is an FDA cleared device commonly used for percutaneous recanalization procedures. This wire has an active tip that delivers focused RF energy and has been applied for many procedures such as percutaneous transseptal left heart access, recanalization of central vein occlusion, recanalization of arterial occlusion, and recanalization of bile duct occlusion. There has been no study investigating the use of the RF wire for TIPS creation in clinical practice with humans. Having promising results of an experimental feasibility investigation in swine, the investigators are seeking to assess the feasibility and safety of the RF wire to cut through tissue in the liver while creating TIPS in the clinical setting.