[Measurement of portosystemic shunting rates during the operation]

Portosystemic shunting rates were measured with Archie's formula in 10 normal dogs and 26 patients with portal hypertension. The average values of the portosystemic shunting rates were 10.1 +/- 4.5(SD) per cent in the 10 dogs and 53.9 +/- 14.2 percent in the 26 patients. There was significantly negative relativity between the difference of the SOPP and FPP and the portosystemic shunting rates (r = -0.885, P less than 0.001). After splenectomy and portoazygous disconnection, the shunting rates were significantly reduced (P less than 0.002 and P less than 0.005, respectively). There was significantly positive relativity between the degrees of patient's esophageal varices and the postoperatively reduced portosystemic shunting rates (r = 0.661, P less than 0.001). It shows that the more the portal blood reverts through the varices, the better the result of portoazygous disconnection.