Serial measurement of portal hemodynamics after partial portal decompression

In a serial analysis of splanchnic hemodynamics, we compared partial with total portal decompression in 16 alcoholic cirrhotic patients who underwent portacaval shunts for variceal hemorrhage. Partial decompression was achieved with 8 or 10 mm polytetrafluorethylene portacaval H grafts and aggressive collateral ligation. Total decompression was achieved with larger diameter H grafts (12 or 14 mm). Early and follow-up (mean interval, 18 months) postoperative studies of portal hemodynamics included: direct measurement of shunt gradients, scintigraphic quantitation of portal and mesenteric flow distribution to the liver, and a portal and splenic collateral scoring system developed from standardized splenic venography. Partial portal decompression reduced portal pressure by 43% +/- 8% compared with 81% +/- 5% after total decompression (p less than 0.01). Scintigraphy demonstrated that partial decompression provided a greater fraction of portal flow to the liver than did total decompression (57% +/- 9% versus 2% +/- 1% intrahepatic radioactivity) and mesenteric flow distribution (14.5% +/- 5.4% versus 1.2% +/- 0.7%). Only one patient with partial decompression had a significant loss of portal perfusion during the interval studies. Significantly more residual collaterals were visualized in patients with partial decompression than in those with total decompression, and interval studies showed no significant changes from early studies. We conclude that partial decompression maintains higher portal pressures, more residual collaterals, and a greater fraction of portal and mesenteric flow to the liver than does total decompression. A modest but uniform reduction of portal pressure minimizes stimulus for new collateral formation and further shunting of portal flow.