Surgical portosystemic shunts for treatment of portal hypertensive bleeding: Outcome and effect on liver function

Background. Since the advent of liver transplantation and transjugular intr ahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS), the role of surgical portosystemic sh unts in the treatment of portal hypertension has changed. However, we have continued to use portosystemic shunts in patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension and in patients with Child's A cirrhosis. Methods. We performed 48 surgical portosystemic shunt procedures between 19 88 and 1998. The outcomes of these patients were evaluated to assess the ef ficacy of this treatment. Data from 39 of 48 patients were available for an alysis. The average follow-up was 42 months. Results. Liver function generally remained stable for the patients; only 2 patients had progressive liver failure and required transplant procedures. Gastrointestinal bleeding (3 patients), encephalopathy (3 patients), and sh unt thrombosis (3 patients) were rare. Patient survival was 81% at 4 years, similar to survival with liver transplantation (P = .22). Conclusions. Surgical shunts remain the treatment of choice for prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding in patients with good liver function and por tal hypertension.