title: Selective variceal decompression in portal vein thrombosis.
abstract: Thirty-two patients with congenital portal vein thrombosis have been managed for bleeding gastro-oesophageal varices. Fifteen had splenectomy and/or other therapy before referral: nine were managed by endoscopic sclerosis, four by devascularization and two by total shunt; six rebled. Seventeen had their spleen 'in situ' at referral and were evaluated for selective shunt: thirteen had distal splenorenal shunts (DSRS)--one transiently rebled despite a patent shunt and one had shunt thrombosis; four had no veins suitable for shunt, and were managed by splenectomy and devascularization, with two rebleeds. Detailed study of seven patients before, and 1 year after DSRS, showed a rise in platelet count, maintenance of hepatocyte function, portal perfusion, liver blood flow and liver size. The spleen showed a significant (P less than 0.025) reduction in size with trans-splenic decompression. We conclude that DSRS provides an excellent method for long-term control of bleeding in such patients, without alteration of liver function or haemodynamics. Patients managed by splenectomy and direct ablative procedures have a significantly (P less than 0.05) greater risk of rebleeding than patients receiving DSRS.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein; D011170:Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical; D012008:Recurrence; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013156:Splenectomy; D013164:Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology