[Long-term follow up after surgery for intractable ascites]

The aim of the study is to evaluate the outcome of a selected group of 24 patients who underwent surgery for refractory ascites, in a 10 years period, 1995-2005.

Alcoholic cirrhosis (n=18), inferior cava thrombosis (n=2), splenic vein thrombosis (n=1), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n=3), with association of variceal bleeding and refractory ascites. The surgical procedures consisted of porto-sistemic shunts (n=12), peritoneo-saphene shunts (n=10), mesenterico-caval shunt (n=1), mesenterico-right atrium shunt (n=1). Early results were very good: no postoperative mortality, no general haemo-dinamic failure, no renal fonctional failure, no encephalopathy. 7 of 10 peritoneo-saphene shunts had an excelent evolution, but in three cases the results were unsatisfactory, the patients continuing the medical treatment. Except one patient who died after 2 years, for B virus and alcoholic abuse, all the patients survived 5 or more years. There was not evidence of digestive hemorrhage or uncontrolable encephalopathy and thrombocytopenia. The grade of esophageal varices was mantained lower than II, ascites remained minimum or absent, and biological parameters were normal or slightly elevated.

In the absence of the technical and economical possibilities of TIPS and liver transplantation, surgery for intractable ascites is a good option in selected patients, especially in the absence of viruses and alcohol consumption, and can improve complications in the natural evolution of the disease.