Effects of altered portal hemodynamics after distal splenorenal shunts

Patients with cirrhosis who had undergone the distal splenorenal shunt were grouped based on preoperative to early postoperative changes in hepatic portal perfusion and corrected sinusoidal pressure. Early and late postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were determined for each hemodynamic group. Morbidity was least when both hepatic portal perfusion and sinusoidal pressure were maintained near preoperative levels (Group 1). Survival for this group was significantly better than for patients who lost portal flow to the liver during the early postoperative interval (Group 4). Patients with absent hepatic portal perfusion had the worst survival and greatest morbidity. Intermediate results were achieved for the two groups of patients that had postoperative preservation of portal perfusion but significant preoperative to postoperative alterations in sinusoidal pressure. Although survival curves for these two groups were not significantly different from Group 1, morbidity was greater, especially for patients with an increase in sinusoidal pressure (Group 2).