A 25-year experience with total portosystemic shunts and reappraisal of colon exclusion

The results of 43 total shunt procedures for bleeding esophageal varices performed consecutively at two community hospitals from 1956 to 1981 are reviewed. Of 15 patients with immediate preoperative bilirubins greater than 2.0 mg/dl, 11 died following shunt surgery. Of 28 other shunted patients with immediate preoperative bilirubins of less than 2.0 mg/dl, there was only one in-hospital death, thus substantiating the contention that the last preoperative serum bilirubin value is the best predictor of operative mortality. Of ten patients with appreciable ascites verified at the time of operation, there were only two survivors, and both of these had preoperative bilirubins of less than 2.0 mg/dl. Twenty-nine of the 31 patients who left the hospital were still living at least one year after operation. All 23 patients operated on prior to 1977 were available for 5-year follow-up, and there were 14 survivors (60%). Thirteen of the 31 patients (42%) manifested some degree of hepatic encephalopathy, as interpreted by necessity for protein restriction and either Neomycin or Lactulose. Incapacitating post-shunt hepatic encephalopathy developed in one patient who required recurrent hospitalizations for episodic coma. This patient underwent a total abdominal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis, with elimination of all episodes of encephalopathy for the subsequent 4 1/2 years. The previous 16 cases in the literature of surgical treatment of post-shunt encephalopathy are reviewed, and the efficacy of such colon exclusion is reassessed.