Has anyone had the tips stent performed? My dad has been on iterferon treatment for 4 mos and has gradually had more portal hypertension and has been in need of blood transfusions since July. For the last 6 weeks we have been getting them weekly w/ a hemoglobin of 4.3. Last week he was given 4 units of blood on Thurs. and went in for endo on Fri. Doc said he saw alot of blood in the stomach, but my dad did not take prep for colonoscopy. My mom asked if they could admit him, but Doc said her insurance would not pay for it and so the Doc sent him home. He continued to bleed all weekend and they told him to come to the office Tues. to check h&h. Tues. night my dad became very symptomatic with dizziness, low HR, and low BP. By the time the Drs offfice called on Wed. they said Hemo was 4.8 and he needed to get to hospital asap to get blood and tips procedure or he would be dead in a week. After 4 units of blood and 2 units FFP (Kindneys also shutting down) they put the tips stent in on Fri. Drs say his kidneys are doing better, but they are giving him alot of fluids, bilirubin is back up...yellow eyes/skin, lot of swelling in the arms and legs, and super high ammonia levels again despite lactulose and Xifaxin. I am not sure how much time this will buy him or if he will ever be able to be normal. He has a hard time talking and gets confused easily and is still losing blood and had 2 more units this morning. Has anyone had any experience with tips at this end stage of liver cirrhosis?