title: Distal splenocaval shunt as an alternative to distal splenorenal shunt in a patient with a retro-aortic left renal vein.
abstract: A 19-year-old patient with schistosomiasis and portal hypertension presented with bleeding oesophageal varices. A selective distal splenorenal shunt was planned. At surgery a retro-aortic left renal vein prevented a classical splenorenal anastomosis, and a distal splenocaval anastomosis was performed which is clinically patent at 18 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Madiba
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Neijenhuis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D013164:Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical