title: Encephalopathy caused by a splenorenal shunt can be reversed by performing a mesenteric-to-left portal vein bypass.
abstract: Surgically created portosystemic shunts can alleviate the symptoms of bleeding from gastric and esophageal varices and improve the hematologic consequences of hypersplenism in patients with portal hypertension. However, the diversion of mesenteric venous blood away from the liver can result in encephalopathy. In this report, we describe a case in which encephalopathy caused by a proximal splenorenal shunt was reversed by the restoration of portal flow to the liver by a mesenteric-to-left portal vein bypass operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Riccardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Superina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D013164:Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery