Distal splenorenal (Warren) shunt in the management of actively bleeding oesophageal varices

The role of portosystemic shunting in the management of portal hypertension

In this chapter, we have tried to indicate the role of the portosystemic shunt in the treatment of portal hypertension. The conclusions are evident: in the last 10 years it has lost its role as leader in the treatment of portal hypertension. However, some firm statements can be made. The selective shunt is an operation that provides both good variceal decompression and satisfactory maintenance of liver function. Its results in great part depend on the skill of the surgeon. Only a patient with good liver function (Child's classes A and B) is a candidate for shunt surgery, with, very occasionally, a patient with severe disease (class C). In an emergency, the operation is used only after failure of sclerotherapy, but it must be used at the right time before the patient's condition has deteriorated. In the prevention of variceal rebleeding, the selective shunt or sclerotherapy can be routine measures. The choice between the two treatments depends on the patient's willingness and the ability of the institution to perform both procedures successfully. If sclerotherapy is chosen, the institution must be able to rapidly rescue a sclerotherapy failure by shunt surgery. Liver transplantation is probably the treatment of the future, but it is at present impossible to suggest that the procedure is feasible for all patients with variceal bleeding and severe liver disease.

Emergency surgical treatment of variceal hemorrhage

Emergency surgery should be considered one of the treatment options for the patient with acute variceal bleeding in whom the usual nonsurgical modes of therapy fail, and who is deemed fit to tolerate a major operation. A total shunt (portacaval or mesocaval) is recommended for most of these patients, although a distal splenorenal shunt might be considered for some very good risk, nonalcoholic patients who have only moderate bleeding. Devascularization procedures have a limited role in the emergency situation, but they may be useful in patients who are nonshuntable because of splanchnic venous thrombosis. The Sugiura type of operation is appropriate for the nonalcoholic patient, and esophageal transection is appropriate for the alcoholic patient with cirrhosis. Patients with end-stage nonalcoholic liver disease should also be considered for liver transplantation.

Appraisal of distal splenorenal shunt in the treatment of esophageal varices: an analysis of prophylactic, emergency, and elective shunts

From June, 1969 to February, 1987, distal splenorenal shunt was carried out on 78 patients with esophagogastric varices. The operations were urgent in 9, elective in 40, and prophylactic in 29 patients. There were 52 males and 26 females. Age ranged from 16 to 76 years with an average of 53 years. Thirty-seven patients were alcoholics. Hepatitis B surface antigen was positive in only 15.5%. The causes of portal hypertension were cirrhosis of the liver in 67, chronic hepatitis in 5, idiopathic portal hypertension in 4, primary biliary cirrhosis in 1, and fatty liver in 1 patient. Fifty-two patients were in Child's class A, 18 in class B, and 8 in class C. Emergency shunts were performed only when conservative therapy had failed to stop variceal bleeding. Prophylactic operations were done in patients having Child's class A or class B liver disease and risky varices, in varices larger than 5 mm in diameter and/or varices with red color signs such as cherry red spots. Forty-two patients underwent the original Warren shunt, but the remaining 36 had modified distal splenorenal shunt with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene interposition. The operative mortality rates were 11.1% in the emergency group, 2.5% in the elective group, and 3.4% in the prophylactic group. The overall operative and hospital death rates were 3.8% and 7.7%, respectively. The patency rate was 94.1% and the incidence of rebleeding from esophageal varices was 3.8%. Hepatic encephalopathy, although mild to moderate in degree, was observed in 14.7% of 75 patients excluding 3 operative deaths.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)