PORTOGRAPHIC EVALUATION FOR RECURRENT ESOPHAGOGASTRIC VARICES FOLLOWING DEVASCULARIZATION SURGERY

Purpose: To investigate, by transhepatic portography, the changes in p ortosystemic collaterals and recurrent esophagogastric varices after d evascularization surgery. Methods: Thirty-five patients, who had under gone devascularization surgery 2-8 years previously, underwent follow- up portography and the collaterals and drainage routes were compared w ith preoperative portography results, Results: Newly formed collateral s were present in 30 of 35 patients and the origins and drainage route s differed from preoperative ones. Most common were new collaterals ar ising from the junction of the portal and superior mesenteric veins; t he next most frequent arose from a main portal branch, the portal trun k, or the superior mesenteric vein. New collaterals with recurrent var ices were seen in 20 patients and without varices in 10; 5 patients ha d no collaterals or varices. Conclusion: Since the development of new collaterals is common in portal hypertensive patients following devasc ularization surgery, regular follow-up for recurrent varices is necess ary.