A reduction in portal pressure gradient (PPG) to below 12 mmHg after placement of a transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) correlates with the absence of further bleeding or ascites at follow-up examinations of patients with cirrhosis. The PPG is usually measured immediately after placement of the TIPS, when different circumstances can affect PPG values – this could affect determination of risk for decompensation. We investigated variations in PPG measurements collected at different time points after TIPS, aiming to identify a time point after which PPG values were best maintained.