ABSTRACT
Transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure that inserts an expandable metallic stent into the liver parenchyme by transjugular catheterization. During the past decade, TIPS has been accepted as an alternative to the surgical shunt procedure for controlling the complications of portal hypertension and has become more widely performed. Complications of TIPS include encephalopathy, bleeding, deterioration of liver function and infection. Although periprocedual sepsis has been known since the early days of TIPS stenting, infection by the TIPS device itself has only recently been recognized because of its rare occurrence. The definition of endotipsitis makes it possible to classify it into two groups: definite and probable infection. We report a case of probable endotipsitis with relapsing bacteremia after TIPS for uncontrolled varix bleeding. If relapsing bacteremia without any other clearly attributable source occurs in a patient with TIPS, the possibility of endotipsitis is considered.