Correction of hypersplenism following distal splenorenal shunt

The effect of splenorenal shunt on hypersplenism was assessed in 47 patients with splenomegaly, 26 of whom had significant thrombocytopenia or leukopenia. Of 16 patients with thrombocytopenia, platelet count returned to normal in 15 (94%) following operation, an improvement which was statistically highly significant (P less than 0.001). Of 16 patients with leukopenia, leukocyte count returned to normal in 11 (69%), also a highly significant improvement (P less than 0.001). Dramatic relief of hypersplenism occurs in the majority of patients following splenorenal shunt. Thrombocytopenia is more consistently corrected than is leukopenia. The etiology of liver disease appeared not to be a factor, but leukopenia was corrected more consistently in alcoholic than in nonalcoholic patients, while there was no difference in the postoperative response of thrombocytopenia to the operation. Long-term follow-up in 26 patients demonstrated sustained improvement in 57% of patients with preoperative leukopenia and 78% of patients with thrombocytopenia. Since significant improvement in leukopenia and thrombocytopenia will occur following the distal splenorenal shunt, hypersplenism is not a contraindication to this procedure.