The LeVeen shunt

Ascites is the end result when the rate of conversion of plasma to peritoneal fluid exceeds the rate of reabsorption from the peritoneal cavity. Physiologic therapy demands the return of this fluid to the plasma volume from whence it arose. The peritoneovenous shunt was devised to accomplish this. If precautionary measures are followed, complications are avoided. The shunt can be accomplished with a mortality under 1% in uncomplicated cirrhosis without jaundice or hydrothorax. Postoperative coagulopathy and infection are avoidable complications. Shunt failure is partly preventable and can almost always be remedied. Patients must be carefully followed to prevent late sepsis: care must be even more rigorous than that given to implanted artificial heart valves, because of the lower resistance of cirrhotics to infection. The cause of death in ascites untreated by shunts is early renal failure that is averted by the shunt. The shunt does not prevent rupture of esophageal varices, a frequent mode of late mortality. Varices require separate therapy. Because the shunt is effective with minimal morbidity and mortality, the indications for a peritoneovenous shunt should be liberalized.