Effect of Venous-Shunt Surgery on Liver Function in Patients with Portal Hypertension

Abstract

ONE of the most encouraging developments in the treatment of liver disease in the past ten years has been the perfection of surgical technics that relieve portal hypertension and reduce the hazard of bleeding from esophageal varices. The most commonly advocated procedure is a venovenous anastomosis shunting blood from the portal into the systemic circulation.1 , 2 We have had over ten years of experience at the Massachusetts General Hospital in attempting to relieve portal hypertension by venous-shunt surgery, and it is important now to assess the results of this therapy and to determine its effect on liver function.The data presented . . .