A randomized controlled trial of mesentericocaval shunt with autologous jugular vein.
After a large uncontrolled experience, in April 1976, a randomized clinical trial between side-to-side portacaval anastomosis and a mesentericocaval shunt with internal jugular vein interposition was initiated. Up to April 1979, 23 patients were operated upon with a mesentericocaval shunt and 26 with a portacaval anastomosis. With a mean follow-up time of 23 months, no statistically significant differences in terms of operative mortality, hepatic encephalopathy and long term survival were found between the two operations. Therefore, a mesentericocaval shunt does not appear to offer effective advantages compared with the portacaval anastomosis, and it should be performed in particular instances in which, for anatomic reasons, a portacaval anastomosis cannot be performed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011170:Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous