Comparative study of portacaval and mesocaval interposition shunts

Portacaval and mesocaval interposition shunts using vascular prosthetic grafts were compared in 37 cirrhotic patients without portal vein thrombosis who were operated on for previous or active variceal hemorrhage. Operative indications and severity of liver disease were similar in the two groups of patients having one or the other procedure. The major difference in results was that none of the 23 patients with portacaval H-graft shunts had rebleeding, while 4 of 14 had rebleeding from varices after mesocaval interposition shunting. This contributed to the higher operative mortality associated with the latter procedure. The index of operative difficulty, as judged by blood loss and length of operation, and postshunt encephalopathy rates were similar for both procedures. Thus, while the mesocaval interposition shunt offers none of the reported theoretical advantages over portacaval H-graft shunt, it does place patients at greater risk of postoperative variceal rehemorrhage. It is concluded that the portacaval interposition shunt, because of its effectiveness and technical expediency, may be the operation of choice in cirrhotic patients with bleeding varices who are not otherwise candidates for other procedures which reduce portal flow less drastically.     

Digestive hemorrhage caused by rupture of esophageal varices. Analysis of 47 emergency surgeries

Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1986, 47 patients out of a total of 228 patients admitted to hospital with endoscopy-proven bleeding esophageal varices, underwent an emergency operation. The indications were massive hemorrhage in 29 patients, and rebleeding early after a first serious episode in 18 patients. Four patients underwent early reoperation for recurrent variceal bleeding. Thirty-seven porto-caval shunts, 10 esophageal transections, 3 proximal gastric resections and 1 exploratory laparotomy were performed. The early results were satisfactory in 53.2% of the patients; operative morbidity and mortality were 19.1% and 27.7% respectively. Four patients died from gastric variceal bleeding soon after esophageal transection. Operative mortality was greater when the patient was Child C or operated for massive hemorrhage. Survivors were followed for at least 12 months. Two patients died from shunt occlusion and recurrent variceal bleeding. No severe encephalopathy was reported. Analysis of the results suggest that porto-caval shunt is indicated in Child A or B patients, particularly with recurrent variceal bleeding soon after a first episode controlled medically.     

Long-term follow-up of poor-risk patients undergoing small-diameter portacaval shunts.

The small-diameter portacaval H-graft has been shown to be a reliable method of controlling variceal hemorrhage. However, little has been written about the long-term follow-up of poor-risk patients treated by this method. Over the last 11 years, we have performed 38 portacaval H-grafts; 79% of the patients were Child's B or C, and 79% were alcoholic. The mean age was 52 years, and the mean period of follow-up was 44 months. Over 37% of the grafts were performed in patients who were bleeding at the time of operation. Our 30-day operative mortality was 13%. Postoperatively, the small-diameter H-graft was associated with mild to moderate encephalopathy in 33% of the patients and ascites in 42%. Both these conditions were easily controlled with diet and medication. Early recurrent variceal bleeding was seen in 13% of patients. However, on late follow-up, recurrent hemorrhage and encephalopathy have been seen in only 12% and 14% of patients, respectively. We conclude that the portacaval H-graft is a reliable and lasting method for controlling variceal bleeding with an acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality.     

Selective distal splenorenal shunt versus side-to-side portacaval shunt. Clinical results of a prospective, controlled study

A prospective, controlled study comparing the clinical results of the selective distal splenorenal shunt procedure and the side-to-side portacaval shunt procedure was undertaken in 1980. Ninety-three cirrhotic patients with previous episodes of bleeding from esophageal varices underwent a distal splenorenal shunt procedure (47 patients). The operative mortality rate was 2 percent in both groups. The intraoperative decrease of portal hypertension after the portacaval shunt procedure was higher than after the distal splenorenal shunt procedure (p less than 0.05), and in those with patent shunts, there was a 0 percent incidence of early variceal rebleeding after the portacaval shunt procedure compared with a 9 percent incidence after the distal splenorenal shunt procedure (p less than 0.05). Both shunts, however, had similarly satisfactory results in preventing long-term variceal rebleeding (portacaval shunt 2 percent and distal splenorenal shunt 0 percent). Postoperative ascites was more common after the distal splenorenal shunt procedure (58 percent versus 24 percent; p less than 0.01). Analysis of actuarial survival curves showed no difference between the two procedures. The incidences of long-term episodes of chronic encephalopathy were not statistically different after both procedures. The only three instances of severe encephalopathy occurred in patients with the portacaval shunt (p less than 0.05). The distal splenorenal shunt also seemed to have a less negative effect on postoperative liver function than the portacaval shunt. These data suggest that the selective shunt should be viewed as a first choice strategy in the treatment of portal hypertension.     

Portasystemic shunting remains the procedure of choice for control of variceal hemorrhage

We reviewed 108 patients (50% Child's C) who had been admitted with acutely bleeding esophageal varices to compare the efficacy of operative (portasystemic shunt) therapy with the reported efficacy of sclerotherapy. In the patients with shunts the early mortality (preoperative plus operative) was 13% and late mortality was 23%. Survival at five years was 50%. Recurrent variceal bleeding was seen in 4% of the patients. Procedure-related mortality and variceal rebleeding rates for the shunt group were respectively 50% and 8% of that reported for sclerotherapy. Variceal rebleeding in the sclerotherapy group required approximately 7 units of blood per episode. We concluded that immediate attempts at control of hemorrhage followed by portasystemic shunting remains the therapy of choice for these patients.     

Partial portacaval shunt: renaissance of an old concept.

BACKGROUND. Partial diversion of the portal system aims to reduce portal pressure sufficiently to prevent variceal hemorrhage but still maintain adequate hepatic portal flow. METHODS. Partial portacaval shunts were performed in 25 patients with cirrhosis with portal hypertension and esophageal varices, either as a primary procedure (n = 16) or for failure of endoscopic sclerotherapy (n = 9), with ringed polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses (8, 10, or 12 mm). RESULTS. All patients have now been followed up for at least 1 year. The operative mortality rate (2 months) was 4%. In 24 patients who survived beyond the initial perioperative period, there was no recurrence of variceal bleeding. Cumulative shunt patency (up to 4 years) is 96%. Acute encephalopathy was detected in two patients (8%), but no patients had signs of chronic encephalopathy. Intraoperative pressure measurements revealed a significant correlation between decreasing diameter of the graft and the percentage reduction of the portacaval pressure gradient. Selective angiography, performed 1 year after surgery, revealed that hepatopetal flow was maintained in 70% of patients with a 10 mm shunt. CONCLUSIONS. It is possible to achieve a partial portacaval shunt, related to the diameter of the prosthesis, that preserves hepatopetal flow in the majority of patients and is associated with a very low incidence of shunt thrombosis. This effectively prevents recurrent variceal bleeding and significant postoperative encephalopathy. The performance of subsequent orthotopic liver transplantation is not compromised. The technique is recommended, either as a primary procedure or when sclerotherapy has failed, in patients with good liver function who are unlikely to require early liver transplantation (grade A and some grade B cirrhosis).     

Portasystemic shunt--our twenty years experience

OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to demonstrate our experiences over twenty years with portasystemic shunt surgery in patients with chronic liver disease and variceal bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1 st, 1980 to December 31 st, 2000 we performed 90 portasystemic shunt operations (PSO). The patients were divided in two groups. The patients of the first group were operated upon between 1980-1988 (n = 58), patients of the second group (n = 32) between 1988-1998. Both groups did not differ in age, gender and cause of hepatic disease. In the first group the most performed type of shunt was the portacaval shunt, in group II the splenorenal shunt. RESULTS: We observed an improved early and late mortality rate, encephalopathy rate and reduction of recurrent variceal bleeding in the second group: the early mortality rate decreased from 16 to 9 % (p < 0.01), the late mortality rate from 35 to 6 % (p < 0.05), the encephalopathy rate from 43 to 12 % and the variceal rebleeding rate from 10 to 6 %. CONCLUSION: Selective shunts, such as the distal splenorenal shunt are significantly superior to the standard (end-to-side or side-to-side) portasystemic shunt. In countries where acute treatment of recurrent variceal hemorrhage with sclerotherapy is not available in remote areas or in countries where transplantation procedures are in the very beginning and where TIPPS operations are too expensive, portasystemic shunt operations are the only possibility to save the patients life when sclerotherapy fails.     

Shunts for portal hypertension

Eighty-nine patients underwent 95 portasystemic shunts for portal hypertension at our institutions between June 1963 and March 1981. Ninety-three shunts were performed for bleeding varices. Procedures that were performed included 11 Warren shunts, 29 Linton shunts, 28 interposition mesocaval shunts, 26 classic portacaval shunts, and one umbilical to saphenous vein shunt. Thirty-six shunts were performed in Child class A patients (5.5% operative mortality), 37 in Child class B (16.2% operative mortality), and 22 in Child class c patients (36.3% operative mortality). Five-year survival for Child A patients was 74 per cent, 17.4 per cent for Child B patients and 26.3 per cent for Child C patients. Twelve of 14 patients (15.7%) who had recurrent postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding were found to have occluded shunts (two Warren, six Linton, one mesocaval, and three portacaval). Of 21 patients who became encephalopathic postoperatively, 17 had alcoholic liver disease. In 15 of these alcoholic patients who survived the immediate postoperative period, encephalopathy correlated directly with continued alcohol consumption. Several conclusions can be drawn from our data: portasystemic shunts can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality; rebleeding generally indicates shunt occlusion; encephalopathy can be correlated with continued alcohol consumption after shunting; there appears to be little difference in survival and rebleeding in the various shunt procedures; the poor survival figures for Child B and C patients must make one seriously consider alternative procedures in these poor-risk candidates.     

Sugiura procedure outside Japan. The Mexican experience

In the last 10 years, we operated on 231 patients with hemorrhagic portal hypertension. Most of these patients had some form of liver disease. We performed various surgical procedures: 47 conventional shunts with H grafts and terminolateral portacaval shunts with arterialization of the portal stump, 139 selective Warren shunts, and in those patients in whom a selective portasystemic shunt could not be performed for technical reasons, esophagogastric devascularization in the form of the Sugiura procedure. Forty-five patients were treated with the Sugiura procedure as a one stage or two stage procedure. A total of 68 emergency and elective operations were performed. The operative mortality rate for the emergency thoracic operation was 41 percent and for the abdominal operation, 42 percent. The overall operative mortality rate in the emergency group was 41 percent. The incidence of recurrent variceal bleeding and encephalopathy was 0 in the surviving patients. The survival rate at 3 year follow-up was 40 percent. The elective group was made up of 24 patients. Eighteen patients had a two stage procedure and 6 patients had a one stage procedure. The operative mortality rate for the abdominal operation was 11 percent, whereas that for the thoracic operation was 7 percent. The operative mortality rate for the one stage procedure was 16 percent. The overall operative mortality rate in the elective group was 10.8 percent. None of these patients had recurrent variceal bleeding and encephalopathy developed in only one (5 percent). The encephalopathy was easily controlled with medical treatment. The 3 year survival rate was 83 percent. We conclude that the Sugiura procedure is an effective procedure to treat hemorrhagic portal hypertension when a selective shunt cannot be performed.     

Transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt vs surgical shunt in good-risk cirrhotic patients: a case-control comparison

HYPOTHESIS: In good-risk patients with variceal bleeding undergoing portal decompression, surgical shunt is more effective, more durable, and less costly than angiographic shunt (transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt [TIPS]). DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Academic referral center for liver disease. PATIENTS: Patients with Child-Pugh class A or B cirrhosis with at least 1 prior episode of bleeding from portal hypertension (gastroesophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy). INTERVENTION: Portal decompression by angiographic (TIPS) or surgical (portacaval, distal splenorenal) shunt. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Thirty-day and long-term mortality, postintervention diagnostic procedures (endoscopic, ultrasonographic, and angiographic studies), hospital readmissions, variceal rebleeding episodes, blood transfusions, shunt revisions, and hospital and professional charges. RESULTS: Patients with Child-Pugh class A or B cirrhosis undergoing TIPS (n = 20) or surgical shunt (n = 20) were followed up for 385 and 456 patient-months, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was greater following TIPS compared with surgical shunt (20% vs 0%; P =.20); long-term mortality did not differ. Significantly more rebleeding episodes (P<.001); rehospitalizations (P<.05); diagnostic studies of all types (P<.001); shunt revisions (P<.001); and hospital (P<.005), professional (P<.05), and total (P<. 005) charges occurred following TIPS compared with surgical shunt. CONCLUSIONS: Operative portal decompression is more effective, more durable, and less costly than TIPS in Child-Pugh class A and B cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding. Good-risk patients with portal hypertensive bleeding should be referred for surgical shunt.     

Emergency portasystemic shunting in cirrhotics with bleeding varices--a comparison of portacaval and mesocaval shunts

Despite the best conservative measures available for the control of major variceal hemorrhage, some patients either continue to bleed, or rebleed early, and require emergency surgery. One hundred patients with cirrhosis and uncontrolled bleeding were treated with emergency portasystemic shunts between 1968 and 1983. Fifty eight patients had end-to-side portacaval shunts and 42 had Dacron interposition mesocaval shunts. Both groups were comparable with respect to age, sex and prevalence of alcoholism. There was an increased severity of liver disease as assessed by Child's class in the mesocaval group of patients. Overall in-hospital mortality was 31% with no significant difference demonstrated between the mesocaval group (28%) and the portacaval group (33%), nor between alcoholic cirrhotics (34%) and non-alcoholic cirrhotics (21%). Mortality rates based on severity of liver disease were: Child's A (1/6) 17%, Child's B (9/48) 19%, and Child's C (21/46) 46%. There was a statistically significant difference between Child's A & B and Child's C (p less than 0.01). Four patients were lost to follow-up. No significant differences were found in 5 year survival by life table analysis comparing portacaval (39%) vs. mesocaval (28%) groups or alcoholic cirrhotics (36%) vs. non-alcoholic cirrhotics (29%). Encephalopathy in survivors was absent in 46%, mild in 28% and severe in 26% of patients. There was no significant difference in encephalopathy rates following portacaval or mesocaval shunting. Neither operation was clearly superior and choice of operation can be made on the basis of technical and anatomical factors and surgeon experience. Emergency shunting remains a useful option for patients with variceal bleeding refractory to other more conservative therapy, and is associated with acceptable early mortality and long term survival rates.     

Liver function and encephalopathy after partial vs direct side-to-side portacaval shunt: a prospective randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine, in a prospective randomized clinical trial, whether the partial portacaval shunt offers any advantage in terms of liver function and encephalopathy rate when compared with direct side-to-side direct portacaval shunt. METHODS: Forty-six "good risk" patients with cirrhosis and with documented variceal hemorrhage were randomly assigned to either a partial shunt procedure (achieved by 10-mm diameter interposition portacaval H-graft) or direct small-diameter side-to-side portacaval anastomosis. RESULTS: Operative mortality was zero in both groups. During the follow-up period, encephalopathy developed in 3 patients in the partial shunt group and 9 in the direct shunt group (P =.04). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that encephalopathy-free survival was significantly longer in the partial shunt group (P =.025). Direct shunt patients had significant hepatic functional deterioration postoperatively compared with the partial shunt group. CONCLUSIONS: The partial portacaval shunt effectively controls variceal hemorrhage. Compared with direct side-to-side portacaval shunt, partial shunt preserves long-term hepatic function and minimizes postoperative encephalopathy. We conclude that the partial portacaval shunt is the preferred approach over direct shunts for patients with cirrhosis and with variceal bleeding.     

Management of Variceal Hemorrhage in Children with Extrahepatic Portal Venous Obstruction-Shunt Surgery Versus Endoscopic Sclerotherapy

Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) is a common cause of portal hypertention in children. Esophageal variceal hemorrhage is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. For many decades, portal systemic shunts were considered as the most effective treatment of variceal hemorrhage. Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) was first introduced for emergency management of bleeding varices and subsequently as definitive treatment to prevent recurrent hemorrhage. The purpose of the study was to compare the safety and efficacy of shunt surgery and endoscopic sclerotherapy for patients with proven esophageal variceal bleeding due to EHPVO. The study was a prospective randomized study of 61 children with bleeding esophageal varices due to EHPVO carried out jointly by the department of General Surgery and Gastroenterology at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, between March 2001 and September 2003. Thirty patients received surgery and other 31 patients received EIS. Overall incidence of rebleeding was 22.6% in sclerotherapy group and 3.3% in shunt surgery group. Treatment failure occurred in 19.4% patients in sclerotherapy group and 6.7% in shunt surgery group. The rebleeding rate of sclerotherapy is significantly higher than that of shunt surgery. However, the therapy failure rate of sclerotherapy is not significantly different from that of shunt surgery.     

门腔静脉人工血管搭桥分流术治疗门静脉高压症

目的观察用门腔静脉间人工血管搭桥分流术治疗门静脉高压症患者的临床疗效,并与传统的门体分流术比较。方法采用带外支撑环的８ｍｍ口径聚四氟乙烯（ＧｏｒｅＴｅｘ）薄壁人工血管行门腔静脉间搭桥分流术,所用人工血管长度为２～３ｃｍ,共治疗２０例患者。结果搭桥分流术后门静脉压力下降幅度与同期１７例脾肾静脉分流术及１１例门腔静脉侧侧分流术相比差异无显著意义（０８３±０３１ｋＰａ,０８１±０５０ｋＰａ及１０２±０４５ｋＰａ,Ｐ＞００５）。三组患者全部获得随访,平均随访时间为１５～２８个月,手术死亡率及再出血率没有差别,但搭桥分流组术后脑病发生率显著低于门腔侧侧分流组（５０％及３６４％,Ｐ＜００５）。２０例患者术后近期均经下腔静脉行门静脉造影,人工血管通畅率为９５％,出院后１９例患者均经一次以上Ｂ超检查,随访已超过１５个月,人工血管均通畅。结论门腔静脉间小口径人工血管搭桥分流术对患者创伤小,操作简便,术后脑病发生率低,疗效比较确切     

The selective role of endoscopic sclerotherapy in the management of bleeding esophageal varices

Twenty-one patients (62% Child's C) underwent endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) to control hemorrhage from esophageal varices. Four patients exsanguinated; bleeding was controlled in the remaining 17 patients (81%). Of this latter group, 14 patients were discharged from the hospital and three patients died from causes other than hemorrhage. A protocol of continued ES was offered to those patients with estimated poor hepatic reserve and to those with excellent reserve who refused portasystemic shunt procedures. During a mean 13 month follow-up of the six patients in this group, rebleeding occurred in two patients (one of whom died). All three patients with excellent hepatic reserve who underwent elective portacaval shunt have suffered neither morbidity nor further hemorrhagic episodes. No significant morbidity related to ES was encountered. ES is recommended in the acute phase of managing all patients with unremittent variceal hemorrhage, and on a continued basis for those with poor hepatic reserve. Patients with excellent reserve should be offered elective portasystemic shunt, accepting the risk of surgical intervention as fair trade-off for its superiority over ES in controlling hemorrhage.     

The changing spectrum of treatment for variceal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of endoscopic therapy, liver transplantation, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on patient selection and outcome of surgical treatment for this complication of portal hypertension, as reflected in a single surgeon's 18-year experience with operations for variceal hemorrhage. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Definitive treatment of patients who bleed from portal hypertension has been progressively altered during the past 2 decades during which endoscopic therapy, liver transplantation, and TIPS have successively become available as alternative treatment options to operative portosystemic shunts and devascularization procedures. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-three consecutive patients who were surgically treated for portal hypertensive bleeding between 1978 and 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. Four Eras separated by the dates when endoscopic therapy (January 1981), liver transplantation (July 1985), and TIPS (January 1993) became available in our institution were analyzed. Throughout all four Eras, a selective operative approach, using the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS), nonselective shunts, and esophagogastric devascularization, was taken. The most common indications for nonselective shunts and esophagogastric devascularization were medically intractable ascites and splanchnic venous thrombosis, respectively. Most other patients received a DSRS. RESULTS: The risk status (Child's class) of patients undergoing surgery progressively improved (p = 0.001) throughout the 4 Eras, whereas the need for emergency surgery declined (p = 0.002). The percentage of nonselective shunts performed decreased because better options to manage acute bleeding episodes (sclerotherapy, TIPS) and advanced liver disease complicated by ascites (liver transplantation, TIPS) became available (p = 0.009). In all Eras, the operative mortality rate was directly related to Child's class (A, 2.7%; B, 7.5%; and C, 26.1 %) (p = 0.001). As more good-risk patients underwent operations for variceal bleeding, the incidence of postoperative encephalopathy decreased (p = 0.015), and long-term survival improved (p = 0.012), especially since liver transplantation became available to salvage patients who developed hepatic failure after a prior surgical procedure. There were no differences between Eras with respect to rebleeding or shunt occlusion. Distal splenorenal shunts (p = 0.004) and nonselective shunts (p = 0.001) were more protective against rebleeding than was esophagogastric devascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The sequential introduction of endoscopic therapy, liver transplantation, and TIPS has resulted in better selection and improved results with respect to quality and length of survival for patients treated surgically for variceal bleeding. Despite these innovations, portosystemic shunts and esophagogastric devascularization remain important and effective options for selected patients with bleeding secondary to portal hypertension.     

Analysis of operative mortality after portal decompressive procedures in cirrhotic patients

One hundred thirty cirrhotic patients who had portal decompressive procedures were reviewed. Progressive hepatic failure, bleeding diathesis and shock or unsatisfactory operations accounted for the 90 day operative mortality of 36 percent. Many deaths occurred after emergency operations in which delay before surgery, increased operative time and intraoperative blood loss resulted in a higher incidence of hepatic failure and coagulopathy. Of the deaths related to unsatisfactory operations, technical difficulties resulting in massive hemorrhage, inadequate shunts and leaking gastrostomies were the causes. Of the various procedures, only the portacaval H-graft was not attended by any of the complications that resulted in massive intraoperative hemorrhage.Operative mortality may be reduced by early and expeditious operation in patients with actively bleeding cirrhosis, because massive blood loss and lengthy operations would result in further hepatic dysfunction because of splanchnic hypoperfusion. Of the standard total portal decompressive procedures, the portacaval H-graft may be the operation of choice because it precludes extensive venous mobilization while shunt adequacy and patency are excellent. Furthermore, decompressive gastrostomy is contraindicated in such patients. Reduction of operative mortality by such measures might result in a more realistic appraisal of long-term results in the surgical management of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis.     

The LeVeen shunt in the elective treatment of intractable ascites in cirrhosis. A prospective study on 140 patients.

One hundred and forty patients with an intractable ascites complicating a chronic liver disease received a peritoneovenous shunt (PVS) using the LeVeen valve. Operative mortality was ten per cent but was 25% in patients with severe liver failure. Intraoperative drainage of ascites sharply decreased postoperative complications and mortality. One-year actuarial survival rate was 81.4%, respectively 77.7%, 61.3%, and 24.7% in patients with good liver function and moderate or severe liver failure. Variceal hemorrhage occurred in 11 patients and late infection in another 11 patients. Thirty-eight patients (30.5%) had recurrence of ascites. This was mostly due to an obstruction on the venous side of the shunt. An elective portacaval shunt had to be done in 23 patients for recurrence of ascites or variceal bleeding. Among the 57 patients still alive at time of writing, 51 were free of ascites. These results suggest that PVS is an efficient operation. This procedure may be largely indicated in the selected and small group of cirrhotic patients with true intractable ascites and moderate or no liver insufficiency.     

Liver transplantation for variceal hemorrhage

At the present time, liver transplantation must be considered among the treatment options for patients with variceal hemorrhage. For a significant percentage of variceal bleeders throughout the world, however, transplantation is not a viable option either because the patient is not an appropriate transplant candidate or because of the etiology of the patient's portal hypertension. Sclerotherapy and portosystemic shunts remain the mainstay of therapy for these patients. The survival rates with liver transplantation are superior to those reported for other therapies for variceal hemorrhage in patients who have moderate or severe liver disease in addition to variceal hemorrhage. Child's C patients whose variceal hemorrhage is controlled medically should be evaluated for transplantation and receive chronic sclerotherapy while they wait on the transplant list. If the variceal hemorrhage cannot be controlled medically in a transplant candidate, then the patient should undergo an emergency shunt procedure. The shunt of choice is a large-bore H-graft mesocaval or mesorenal shunt. This shunt effectively controls the acute hemorrhage, is relatively simple to perform, does not adversely impact on the subsequent liver transplant, and can simply be ligated after the transplant is completed. Patients who experience variceal hemorrhage as the only manifestation of their liver disease should be treated initially with endoscopic sclerotherapy. For that small group of patients who are either not candidates for sclerotherapy or who rebleed despite sclerotherapy, the choice of shunt or transplantation is presently a difficult one, because both therapies provide excellent results in this group of patients. The choice of therapy should be made on an individual basis and only after consultation with both transplant and shunt surgeons. If a shunt is chosen, we prefer the DSRS because it maintains hepatic portal perfusion in many patients and does not require dissection of the porta hepatis. The management of patients with a prior portosystemic shunt at the time of transplantation depends on the type of shunt and the duration of time between the shunt and the transplant. Shunts not involving the hepatic hilum have little adverse impact on the performance of the transplant. There are insufficient data to assess accurately the effect of a prior portacaval shunt on the transplant. However, our clinical experience and that of other transplant groups indicate that the transplantation of these patients is technically more difficult than that of patients with shunts not involving the hilum. With the availability of other shunting procedures that do not involve extensive dissection of the hepatic hilum, there is little role for either end-to-side or side-to-side portacaval shunts in patients who are potential liver transplant candidates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Prospective study of a prosthetic H-graft portacaval shunt

This study was undertaken to prospectively evaluate the 8-mm Gore-Tex interposition H-graft portacaval shunt. Thirty-six high-risk patients at the University of South Florida-affiliated hospitals received small-diameter shunts because of bleeding esophagogastric varices over a recent 2-year period. Portal vein and portal vein-inferior vena cava gradients were significantly reduced after shunting. These pressure changes were manifested clinically by the absence of variceal rebleeding and improvement of ascites; in addition, the incidence of encephalopathy was low. The 8-mm graft maintained hepatopedal flow in 67% of the patients, but reversal of flow did not result in complications commonly associated with poor portal perfusion. Graft thrombosis occurred in four (11%) patients. All grafts were successfully revised, three by operative revision and one by an interventional radiologist. Operative mortality was low (11%), and morbidity was unusual. The small-diameter H-graft portacaval shunt is a safe and effective method of treatment for bleeding esophagogastric varices.