title: A quarter of a century of portasystemic shunting for oesophageal varices.
abstract: Seventy-three patients who had received portasystemic shunts were reviewed to assess the current role of this procedure in the treatment of portal hypertension. Survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 85%, 68% and 45% respectively. Survival was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) in Child's grade A patients compared with Child's grade B patients and in non-alcoholics compared with alcoholics. Previously absent encephalopathy developed in 43% of those with non-selective shunts compared with 21% of those with selective shunts. Six of the 12 patients who experienced recurrent variceal haemorrhage had associated shunt thrombosis: five of these required further shunts or oesophageal transection to control their bleeding and the other patient died before further surgery could be instituted. Shunt surgery still has a role in the treatment of a small number of carefully selected patients with portal hypertension.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Deans
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011170:Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies