PARTIAL OCCLUSION OF THE SPLEEN IN EXTRAH EPATIC PORTAL-HYPERTENSION IN CHILDREN

Hemodynamics in the portal system was assessed at digital subtraction angioqraphy in 57 children aged 9 months - 15 years suffering from ext rahepatic portal hypertension. Natural splenorenal anastomoses were fo und in 31 patients. 13 patients developed arteriovenous shunting info gasfroesophageal plexus through the conglomerate of pathological vesse ls in the upper splenic pole. Partial occlusion of the spleen was perf ormed in 12 patients aged 3-12 to block arteriovenous anastomoses and to reduce the blood flow from the spleen to the portal system. In vari ous postocclusion periods blood effusion into gastric veins through ar teriovenous shunts and retrograde flow via splenic vein and natural sp lenorenal anastomoses to the lower vena cava inferior were absent or d rastically diminished. Septic complications were absent. Partial splen ic occlusion in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension is cons idered valid.