[Vascularization between spleen and liver following splenohepatoplasty. Angiographic studies in cirrhotic rats]

Portocaval shunt is no definite therapeutic solution to portal hypertension. Total bypass of the portal flow, off the liver, is accompanied, in such cases, by sooner liver failure and higher rates of encephalopathy. The view was generally defended that arterialisation of the liver might result in accelerated regeneration of the liver and in an improvement of hepatocellular functionality. Numerous animal experiments and clinical investigations were, therefore, aimed at arterialisation of the hepatic section of the portal vein, following portocaval shunt. Studies were also conducted into splenohepatoplasty. Portal obstruction was found to be avoidable by that technique, and liver arterialisation could be achieved at low pressure. The authors, in their experimental study, succeeded in radiographic representation of neovascularisation which had been achieved between spleen and liver by means of splenohepatoplasty.