International Symposium named "Emergency Room Procedures of the Liver" and organized by the Institute of Radiology and Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepathology took place at the Military Medical Academy. Thanks to the joint work of world eminent expert Prof. Dr. Geert Maleux from Belgium and MMA medical team, there were broadcasted live surgeries of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) and Transjugular Liver Biopsy in MMA Institute’s of Radiology Angiography room. Procedures which have not been performed in Serbian healthcare facilities, starting from this day became regular emergency procedures of the MMA Institute of Radiology.

These operative procedures can help the patients waiting for the liver transplantation or having problems due to cirrhosis. TIPS procedure solves the problems related to portal hypertension in patients suffering from cirrhosis with frequent and excessive bleeding. Transjugular liver biopsy is suggested to be rather applied in patients with a risk of classic biopsy.

Colonel Prof. Dr. Radoje Doder, Head of the MMA Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepathology said that portal hypertension represents the most severe condition of liver cirrhosis with an increased mortality rate due to frequent bleeding. Treatment methods so far included medicaments, conservative therapy, endoscopic procedures, sclerozation and surgery, not giving always the good results.

Head of the Department of Emergency Radiology, MMA Institute of Radiology Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Sinisa Rusovic pointed out that Military Medical Academy introduced these procedures as the National Liver Transplant Center. Since these patients should wait for some time to receive the adequate body organ, TIPS method bridges over the critical waiting transplantation period.