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Big shunts for small patients with portal hypertension: a bit of history
1Department of Surgery, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus.
Insights
Two new surgical procedures were developed to treat bleeding varices in young children. These portosystemic shunts help decompress the portal venous system, preventing life-threatening bleeding episodes in preschool-aged patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Hepatology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Portal hypertension in children can lead to severe bleeding from esophageal varices.
- Preschool-aged children are particularly vulnerable to their first life-threatening bleeding episodes.
Abstract:
This is a brief resume of my personal experiences that led to the development of two portosystemic shunt procedures designed to be used in small patients with bleeding varices and portal hypertension. Both enable one to decompress the congested protal venous system in the preschool-aged group when about two thirds of such patients begin to suffer their first life threatening bleeding episodes.
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