Portal-systemic shunting and portal-systemic encephalopathy: A predictable relationship

✍ Scribed by Professor of Medicine Harold O. Conn

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 377 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840220148

✦ Synopsis

Objective

Results of the first prospective randomized clinical trial comparing partial and total portacaval shunt for variceal hemorrhage are reported. Summary Background Data Total portacaval shunts produce subnormal portal pressures, completely diverting hepatic portal flow. Partial shunts maintain higher pressures and preserve hepatopedal flow. No randomized trials of these two approaches have been performed. Methods Alcoholic patients with cirrhosis (n = 30) and variceal hemorrhage treated at one institution were randomized to receive partial (8-mm diameter portacaval H grafts with collateral ablation, n = 14) or total shunts (16-mm diameter grafts, n = 16). Portography was performed