[The Warren sunt (author's transl)]

The fundamental principles of the distal splenorenal shunt are three-fold (1) selective decompression of gastroesophageal varices; (2) simulation of a spontaneous and sometimes effective gastro-spleno-suprarenal shunt; and (3) maintenance of the portal-venous perfusion of the liver. The cirrhotic patient with hemorrhagic episodes who is free of ascites and in whom angiography reveals either good or poor portal flow to the liver is a suitable subject for this procedure. The essential stages and difficulties of the surgical technique are discussed.