title: Operative results in portal hypertension with bleeding oesophageal varices.
abstract: During a 15-year period 81 patients with bleeding oesophageal varices were admitted to our department. Nearly 90% had liver cirrhosis, 21% were alcoholics. 67 portosystemic shunts were performed in 63 patients, in 11 of these as an emergency shunt. Overall operative mortality in electively shunted patients was 10.7%. Even in those with the most severe liver insufficiency (Child's group C) operative mortality was below 20%. Operative mortality in elective cases was closely correlated to peroperative bleeding. Only 1 of 45 patients needing less than 10 units of blood peroperatively died, while mortality in the multitransfused group was 45.5%. Both patients surviving urgent shunt surgery were operated on early, i.e. before they had received 5 units of blood.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000601:surgery*