Ultrasonic flow detection for localization of splenic and renal veins

The selective splenorenal shunt is currently recommended as an alternative procedure to portocaval shunting. However, this operation is technically more difficult, particularly the localization of the renal vein in patients with thickened retroperitoneal tissues. The Doppler flow detector has helped us identify the splenic and renal veins, and we suggest the intraoperative use of this instrument in situations where difficulty is encountered.