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Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Objective: To analyze the recent postoperative and long-term postoperative complications of open-splenectomy and disconnection in patients with portal hypertension. Methods: There were 1 118 cases with portal hypertension who underwent open splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection from April 2010 to September 2015 at Department of Surgery, People's Liberation Army 302 Hospital. Retrospective case investigation and telephone follow-up were conducted in October 2016. All patients had history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding before operation. Short-term complications after surgery were recorded including secondary laparotomy of postoperative abdominal hemostasis, severe infection, intake disorders, liver insufficiency, postoperative portal vein thrombosis and perioperative mortality. Long-term data including postoperative upper gastrointestinal rebleeding, postoperative survival rate and incidence of postoperative malignancy were recorded, too. GraphPad Prism 5 software for data survival analysis and charting. Results: Postoperative short-term complications in 1 118 patients included secondary laparotomy of postoperative abdominal hemostasis(1.8%, 21/1 118), severe infection(2.9%, 32/1 118), intake disorders(1.0%, 11/1 118), liver dysfunction (1.6%, 18/1 118), postoperative portal vein thrombosis(47.1%, 526/1 118)and perioperative mortality(0.5%, 5/1 118). After phone call following-up, 942 patients' long-term data were completed including 1, 3, 5 years postoperative upper gastrointestinal rebleeding rate(4.4%, 12.1%, 17.2%), 1, 3, 5-year postoperative survival rate(97.0%, 93.5%, 90.3%); the incidence of postoperative malignant tumors in 1, 3 and 5 years were 1.7%, 4.4% and 6.2%. Conclusions: Reasonable choosing of surgical indications and timing, proper performing the surgery process, effective conducting perioperative management of portal hypertension are directly related to the patient's short-term prognosis after portal hypertension. Surgical intervention can reduce the rates of patients with upper gastrointestinal rebleeding, improve survival, and do not increase the incidence of malignant tumors.

Introduction: Laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) has been reported to be safe, feasible, and minimally invasive for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. There is still controversy as to whether it is necessary to perform synchronous splenectomy for patients with moderate hypersplenism who undergo azygoportal disconnection for esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage (EGVB)., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes in 51 cirrhotic patients with EGVB and moderate hypersplenism (PLT ≥50 × 10 9 /L) who underwent LSD (n = 28) or laparoscopic azygoportal disconnection (LD) (n = 23) between January 2014 and October 2015. Their demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were compared., Results: LSD and LD were successful in all the patients. When compared with LSD, LD had a significantly shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay, fewer days of postoperative body temperature >38.0 °C, lower rate of fever postoperatively, and lower C-reactive protein concentration and procalcitonin concentration on postoperative day (POD) 7 (all P < 0.05). The incidences of portal vein system thrombosis in the LD group on PODs 7, 30, and 90 were significantly lower than those in the LSD group at all the time points (all P < 0.05). According to the postoperative serum proportions of CD4 + and CD8 + and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (all P < 0.05), the LSD group had significantly lower immune function than the LD group on POD 90., Conclusions: LD is safe and effective for EGVB with moderate hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension in selected patients., (Copyright © 2016 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Given the technical difficulty of laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD), data are limited that compare the laparoscopic to the open procedure. As the technique becomes more widespread, questions regarding its safety, feasibility, and reproducibility must be addressed. This review assesses the current status of LSD., Methods: We conducted our literature review with a search of the PubMed database. All published series of 5 or more laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection procedures were examined. The demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative data analyzed included number of ports, conversion rate, operative duration, estimated intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and complications., Results: Fifteen articles met the review criteria. Of 412 laparoscopic procedures, traditional laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (TLSD) was used in 322 patients (78.2%), a modified laparoscopic procedure (MLSD) in 79 (19.2%), and a single-incision laparoscopic procedure (SLSD) in 11 (2.7%). Compared with the traditional and single-incision laparoscopic procedures, the MLSD procedure was associated with shorter operative duration and less blood loss. Furthermore, although the incidence of postoperative portal vein system thrombosis was higher in the laparoscopic than in the open splenectomy with azygoportal disconnection (OSD) procedure, the LSD procedure was associated with less pulmonary infection and pleural effusion and fewer incisional and overall complications than the open procedure. The rate of conversion to an open procedure was 5.4%., Conclusions: LSD is feasible and safe for selected patients when performed by an expert laparoscopic surgeon. It has perioperative advantages over OSD, but studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples of patients are needed.

Aim: To investigate perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing modified laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (MLSD) with intraoperative autologous cell salvage., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated outcomes in 79 patients admitted to the Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University with cirrhosis, portal hypertensive bleeding and secondary hypersplenism who underwent MLSD without (n = 46) or with intraoperative cell salvage and autologous blood transfusion, including splenic blood and operative hemorrhage (n = 33), between February 2012 and January 2014. Their intraoperative and postoperative variables were compared. These variables mainly included: operation time; estimated intraoperative blood loss; volume of allogeneic blood transfused; visual analog scale for pain on the first postoperative day; time to first oral intake; initial passage of flatus and off-bed activity; perioperative hemoglobin (Hb) concentration; and red blood cell concentration., Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of duration of surgery, estimated intraoperative blood loss and overall perioperative complication rate. In those receiving salvaged autologous blood, Hb concentration increased by an average of 11.2 ± 4.8 g/L (P < 0.05) from preoperative levels by the first postoperative day, but it had fallen by 9.8 ± 6.45 g/L (P < 0.05) in the group in which cell salvage was not used. Preoperative Hb was similar in the two groups (P > 0.05), but Hb on the first postoperative day was significantly higher in the autologous blood transfusion group (118.5 ± 15.8 g/L vs 102.7 ± 15.6 g/L, P < 0.05). The autologous blood transfusion group experienced significantly fewer postoperative days of temperature > 38.0°C (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Intraoperative cell salvage during MLSD is feasible and safe and may become the gold standard for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertensive bleeding and hypersplenism.

Objective: To investigate the effects and technical points of laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LS+ED) for portal hypertension (PH) due to liver cirrhosis., Subjects and Methods: In total, 204 PH patients who underwent LS+ED from January 2008 to April 2013 in the Southwest Hospital of the Third Military Medical University were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and the key technical points and compared the results with other researchers., Results: LS+ED was successfully carried out on 188 patients. The mean duration of surgery was 232±59 minutes, the mean intraoperative blood loss was 189±137 mL, the rate of blood transfusion was 19.6% (40/204), and no deaths occurred during surgery. The mean postoperative interval to passing of flatus was 3.5±0.9 days, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 8.7±2.2 days. Operative complications occurred in 100 patients, of whom 78 had portal vein system thrombosis (PVST). During a postoperative follow-up period of 2-65 months, 15 cases were lost to follow-up, esophagogastric variceal bleeding re-occurred in 7 patients, encephalopathy occurred in 2 patients, and secondary liver cancer occurred in 3 patients. Five patients died during this period., Conclusions: The technical points of LS+ED include a combined surgical approach, a reasonable surgical procedure, and an appropriate laparoscopic operating plane. LS+ED is a safe and effective treatment for minimal trauma and rapid recovery. PVST is a common and potentially life-threatening complication after LS+ED, and anticoagulation therapy should be given early.

Aim: To investigate perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing modified laparoscopic splenectomy or open splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection for portal hypertension., Methods: This study included 44 patients who underwent modified laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (MLSD) and 71 who underwent open procedures for portal hypertension. Blood samples were collected before surgery and on days 1, 3, and 7 after surgery. Markers of liver and renal function, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin (PCT) were measured, and perioperative variables were compared between the two groups., Results: The modified laparoscopic group showed significantly better and faster recovery, better liver and renal function, and fewer complications than the open group. CRP, IL-6, and PCT concentrations on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7 were significantly lower in the modified laparoscopic group than in the open group., Conclusion: MLSD was associated with lower inflammatory immune responses, less impairment of liver and renal function, and faster and better recovery.

Objective: To compare the efficacies between transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and portoazygos devascularization (PAD) in the treatment of portal hypertension with variceal bleeding., Methods: From December 1993 to December 2010, 309 patients with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding were admitted. According to their general conditions and Child-Pugh grades, they were assigned to undergo TIPS (group A, n = 235) or PAD (group B, n = 74). Before operation, compared with the PAD group, the TIPS group possessed worse liver functions, more severe ascites and a greater frequency of bleeding. After operation, the therapeutic efficacies and changes of portal hemodynamics, recurrent variceal bleeding, post-operative encephalopathy and long-term survival were evaluated between two groups., Results: The postoperative portal pressure in the TIPS group ((42.6 ± 7.0) vs (26.3 ± 4.1) cm H2O) decreased much more than that in the PAD group ((38.7 ± 5.2) vs (33.5 ± 5.8) cm H2O, P < 0.01). The rebleeding rates during early postoperation were 0.85% (2/235) and 6.76% (5/74) in TIPS and PAD groups respectively, the occurring rates of hepatic encephalopathy 4.68% (11/235) and 4.05% (3/74) and the rates of operative mortality 1.70% (4/235) and 6.76% (5/74) respectively. Survival rates of 1, 3, 5 and 10 years were 98.30% (231/235) vs 92.24% (69/74), 92.41% (146/158) vs 88.06% (59/67), 80.77% (84/104) vs 79.25% (42/53), 51.43% (36/79) vs 51.85% (14/27) in TIPS and PAD groups respectively., Conclusions: As compared with PAD, TIPS offers the such advantages as less trauma, wider indication, faster hemostasis and satisfactory therapeutic efficacies. Especially for the emergency treatment of a patient with massive variceal bleeding and Child-Pugh C grade liver function, TIPS is a better option than PAD.

Objective: To analyze the long-term results of TIPS, TIPS with coronary vein occlusion (CVO) and combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection for the treatment of portal hypertension and variceal bleedings., Methods: Three hundreds and fifty-eight patients with portal hypertension were admitted because of variceal bleeding from July 1993 to May 2008. All patients were divided into 3 groups: 227 cases in group TIPS, 36 cases in TIPS and CVO group, 95 cases in combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection group. The rates of successful operation, shunt patency, rebleeding, encephalopathy and survival were observed and compared by statistics methods., Results: There were 349 cases (97.5%) underwent successful surgery and 9 cases with failure surgery. The rates of occluded shunts, encephalopathy, rebleeding, and death in early periods were 2.5%, 31.8%, 4.7% and 9.0% respectively. The rate of encephalopathy and death in group with TIPS were higher than in group with combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection (P < 0.01). The rate of encephalopathy and death were 41.2% and 24.7% in 85 cases with emergency TIPS. During the follow-up 1 - 15 years, the rate of patency shunts in 12 and 24 months after operation was 74.0% and 48.1% respectively. The rate of 1-year patency shunts in group with combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection was higher than in group with TIPS, TIPS and CVO (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The rebleeding in group with TIPS was higher than in group with combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection (P < 0.01), and the survival rate in group with TIPS was lower than in group with TIPS and CVO, combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01)., Conclusions: TIPS is an efficient therapy for portal hypertension with CVO, combined TIPS and portal azygous disconnection can improve the results of TIPS for portal hypertension.

Objective: The results of TIPS and the combined TIPS and portal-azygous disconnection for portal hypertension and variceal bleeding were evaluated., Methods: 358 patients with portal hypertension were admitted to our clinical ward because of variceal bleeding. 263 patients underwent TIPS and 95 patients with combined TIPS and portal-azygous disconnection. Portal hemodynamics was evaluated by pressure measurements, venography and Doppler ultrasound before and 2 weeks after the procedure. The rates of shunt patency, rebleeding, encephalopathy and survival were observed during the follow-up period from 1 to 10 years., Results: The portal pressure and HVPG were decreased significantly after TIPS. TIPS procedure was successfully performed in 97.50% patients. During 1 month after treatment, acute shunt occlusion occurred in 3.42% patients with TIPS and there were no occluded shunts in patients with combined TIPS and portal-azygous disconnection. Encephalopathy was observed in 36.50% patients with TIPS and 18.95% with combined TIPS and portal-azygous disconnection. Recurrent variceal bleeding was documented in 6.46% patients with TIPS and none of patients with combined TIPS and azygous portal disconnection. Thirty-three patients with TIPS and two patients with combined TIPS and portal-azygous disconnection died. During follow-up periods, the patency of shunts in patients with TIPS and patients combined TIPS and azygous portal disconnection was 68.47, 43.84 and 87.06, 57.65% in 12 and 24 months after operation, respectively. The rates of rebleeding, and encephalopathy in patients with TIPS and patients with combined TIPS and azygous portal disconnection were 17.95, 31.79 and 7.04, 16.47%, respectively. The survival rate in 1, 5, 10 years in patients with TIPS and patients combined TIPS and azygous portal disconnection was 87.68, 51.23, 39.90 and 94.12, 81.18, 76.47%., Conclusion: Combined TIPS and portal-azygous disconnection can improve the effect of TIPS for portal hypertension.

Background: Bleeding from esophageal varices is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with portal hypertension. The ideal surgical procedure should control bleeding with as little impairment of liver function as possible and with low rates of encephalopathy. Recently, significant progress in laparoscopic technology has enabled laparoscopic splenectomy and devascularization of the lower esophagus and upper stomach in a less invasive way. In this paper, we present preliminary results for 25 patients in whom laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection were performed., Patients and Methods: Laparoscopic splenectomy and devascularization of the lower esophagus and upper stomach were performed in 25 patients with cirrhosis, bleeding portal hypertension, and secondary hypersplenism between January 2000 and October 2006. Among them, 5 patients underwent a laparoscopic modified Sugiura procedure, the lower esophagus was transected, and then reanastomosed with a circular stapler., Results: Laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection were completed in all patients, except in 1 conversion, without significant morbidity. The operation time ranged from 4.0 to 5.5 hours and the blood loss was 100-400 mL. The postoperative hospital stay was 6-15 days. During a postoperative follow-up period of 3 months to 5 years in 22 patients, neither esophagus variceal bleeding nor encephalopathy has recurred., Conclusions: Laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection are feasible, effective, and safe surgical procedures, and have all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery for patients with bleeding portal hypertension and hypersplenism. Laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection offer a new operative method for treatment of bleeding portal hypertension with hypersplenism.

Background: Portal hypertension is a common disease and its major surgical therapeutic approaches include devascularization and shunting. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of combined splenocaval or mesocaval C shunt and portoazygous devascularization (combined procedures) on portal hypertension., Methods: The clinical data of 150 patients with portal hypertension who had undergone combined procedures at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 1990 to May 2003 were analyzed retrospectively., Results: The mean free portal pressure (FPP) was 25.6+/-1.83 mmHg, 18.0+/-2.07 mmHg and 18.4+/-2.19 mmHg before operation, after splenectomy plus splenocaval or mesocaval C shunt, and combined procedures, respectively. There was no operative death in all patients. The 1-7 year follow-up of 100 patients showed rebleeding in 3 patients, encephalopathy in 4, thrombosis of artificial vascular graft in 3, and dying from liver failure in 2., Conclusions: The combined procedures can not only decrease portal pressure but also preserve hepatic blood flow to some extent. It may be one of the best choices for treating portal hypertension in China.

Background: To examine the feasibility of a new, minimally invasive procedure for the devascularization of the proximal stomach and distal esophagus to prevent recurrent variceal bleeding in portal hypertension in a new animal model., Material and Methods: Portal hypertension was created by laparoscopic clip ligation of the portal vein on 20 pigs. After 2 weeks the azygoportal disconnection procedure was performed with the LigaSure-ATLAS instrument., Results: There were 16 pigs out of 20 that survived both operations. Two died during introduction of anesthesia, one because of a cardiac arrest (second operation). One pig died resulting from necrosis of the gastric and esophageal wall. Autopsy (2 weeks later) showed that there was a complete arterial devascularization. At autopsy, none of the remaining 16 pigs had esophageal varices or necrosis of the stomach or esophagus., Conclusion: Laparoscopic azygoportal disconnection is a less invasive method for the prevention of rebleeding and seems to be safely performed with the LigaSure-ATLAS instrument.

Background: The study compared the preoperative portal vein congestion index estimated by Doppler ultrasound and the postoperative portal vein thrombosis of patients submitted to esophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy (EDS)., Methods: 65 patients with portal hypertension due to schistosomiasis and previous gastrointestinal bleeding submitted to EDS were divided into two groups: GROUP A (28 patients without postoperative portal vein thrombosis) and GROUP B (37 patients with postoperative portal vein thrombosis). The following parameters of preoperative Doppler ultrasound of the portal vein were analyzed: diameter, area, mean blood flow velocity and blood flow, whereupon the congestion index was calculated., Results: The diameter, area and blood flow of the portal vein were greater in group B (mean of 1.52 cm; 1.77 cm(2) and 2533.12 ml / min) than in group A (mean of 1.33 cm; 1.44 cm(2) and 1609.03 ml / min) with p = 0.03; 0.03 and 0.04 respectively. Difference of the congestion index was not statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.07)., Conclusions: The portal vein congestion index at the preoperative of EDS estimated by Doppler ultrasound was not predictive of portal vein thrombosis in the postoperative of patients with portal hypertension due to schistosomiasis.

Aim: To determine and compare the effect of vagus nerve on gallbladder motility in patients with hepatic cirrhosis before and after portal azygous disconnection (PAD)., Methods: PAD operation (or Hassab's operation) was performed on 18 patients with portal hypertension, and anterior and posterior vagal trunks were cut. On d 3 before operation and d 10 after operation, (99m)Tc-EHIDA 185 MBq was administered intravenously to the patients, and scintigraphy was performed at 0.25 min/frame. A standard fat meal was administered 30 min after scintigraphy, and dynamic imaging was performed 60 min after the fat meal. Following appearance of the region of interest (ROI) in gallbladder, the time-activity curve of ROI was established. The following seven parameters were used: radioactivity at 30 min after injection of (99m)Tc-EHIDA (RC 30 min), bile emptying fraction (EF), bile emptying period (EP), emptying rate (ER), latent period (LP), latent period radiocounting increment (LI), and latent period radiocounting increment rate (LR)., Results: The RC 30 min decreased significantly after operation, compared with that before operation (2 693.6+/- 2 406.9 vs 5 606.8+/-2 625.4, P<0.05). The radiocounting of gallbladder increased gradually during LP. LP after operation was significantly longer than that before operation (13.36+/-5.92 vs 2.24+/-1.48, P<0.01). LI and LR after operation were significantly higher than those before operation (2 861.62+/-028.3 vs 331.21+/-421.02, and 113.42+/-49.52 vs 7.57+/-10.75, respectively, both P<0.01). EP after operation was significantly shorter than that before operation (18.5+/-6.3 vs 24.1+/-6.4, P<0.05). EF and ER after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (13.1+/-5.4 vs 32.3+/-16.3, and 0.7+/-0.3 vs 1.4+/-0.8, respectively, both P<0.01)., Conclusion: PAD operation is a good clinical model in studying the effect of vagus on gallbladder motility. The gallbladder tension after PAD operation decreases significantly during the interdigestive phase. The latent period of gallbladder contraction prolongs and the motility weakens apparently after a standard fat meal. Human vagus influences the gallbladder motility, and cutting of the nerve inhibits the gallbladder motility.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess systemic hemodynamic changes in patients with Manson's schistosomiasis and portal hypertension during azygoportal disconnection and splenectomy., Methods: Sixteen patients with portal hypertension secondary to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with indication for surgery were studied prospectively. All underwent invasive hemodynamic monitoring with pulmonary artery catheter. The first systemic hemodynamic assessment was performed preoperatively. In the intraoperative period new hemodynamic data were collected as follows: a) after laparotomy; b) 15-30 min after splenic artery ligature; c) 15-30 min after splenectomy; and d) after ligation of the collateral circulation., Results: The results indicated preoperatively that the patients presented with an increased cardiac index (4.40 +/- 0.94 L/min/m2) together with a reduction in the systemic vascular resistance index (1692.25 +/- 434.91 dyne.s/cm5.m2). The stroke index (53.74 +/- 10.40 ml/beat/m2) and both left (5.71 +/- 1.50 kg.m/m2) and right heart work indexes (1.12 +/- 0.74 kg.m/m2) were also elevated. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was increased (17.81 +/- 9.00 mm Hg) and the pulmonary vascular resistance index decreased (164.31 +/- 138.69 dyne.s/cm5.m2). From the moment that the splenic artery was ligated until the end of the procedure, the cardiac index (3.45 +/- 0.90 L/min/m2) was reduced and the systemic vascular resistance index (2059.50 +/- 590.05 dyne.s/cm5.m5) increased. The systolic index (44.25 +/- 11.01 ml/beat/m2) and the left ventricle work index (4.33 +/- 1.29 kg.m/m2) also reduced. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (19.18 +/- 9.21 mm Hg) and the right ventricle work index (0.94 +/- 0.62 mm Hg) remained elevated after the surgical procedure., Conclusions: The data allowed us to conclude that hepatosplenic schistosomiasis induces a hyperdynamic circulatory state that was corrected after splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection, remaining a mild pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, these changes are correlated with the portosystemic collateral circulation, especially as a consequence of splanchnic hyperflow.

Based on experience at their department since 1983 the authors analyze the position of the azygoportal disconnection in the treatment of complications of portal hypertension. During the observation period the number of operations declined due to extensive use of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment. However the azygoportal disconnection still remains part of surgical intervention in indicated cases, in particular in secondary hypersplenism and profuse haemorrhage.

Controversy remains about the best treatment for patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding. In spite of different therapeutic alternatives and recent progress, such as liver transplantation of TIPS, many patients will finally be treated by standard surgery. With the aim to know the results of surgery in shunting vs non-shunting procedures, we have analyzed a recent and consecutive series of 68 cirrhotics patients operated on for variceal hemorrhage. According to the surgical technique there were three groups: I) 30 patients underwent a total portacaval shunt; II) 18 cases with an azygosportal disconnection; III) 20 patients with a partial portacaval shunt (8-10 mm H-portacaval PTFE graft). All groups were homogeneous considering age, sex etiology, Child-Pugh grade and timing of surgery (elective vs urgent). The complications and mortality rates were similar for the three groups. The overall operative mortality was 10%, and 5% in selected cases (Child-Pugh A-B, non urgent cases). With a follow-up for I, II and III group of 47, 44 and 27 months respectively, chronic encephalopathy have been seen in 61%, 15% and 15% respectively (p < .05). No patient in group I has rebled, and only one case in the II and III groups had a recurrence of hemorrhage. The actuarial three years survival was 76%, 86% and 85% (p NS), and the five year survival was 41% vs 86% for the groups I and II respectively (p < .05). In conclusion, in selected cases, surgery gives excellent immediate and long term results. In patients with variceal bleeding and failure of first line treatments, such as sclerosis or pharmacology, the partial H-portacaval shunt and non-shunting procedures are good alternatives, with low incidence of rebleeding and chronic encephalopathy.

The severe complications of portal hypertension have not been solved yet, except the majority of cirrhotic livers suffering of hemorrhagic varices which are expected to be managed by a liver transplant. When we started to study post operatively our patients operated on with the porta azygous disconnection in whom we ligate the splenic artery and the short vessels with the technique we described in 1981, we found that the patients subject to this procedure have no alterations in their splenic circulation. An anatomic research study determined that the spleen is also irrigated by the left gastroepiploic artery which it has not been described before. This finding simplifies our surgical disconnection procedure because now it is not necessary the ligation of the splenic artery.

Since January 1988 to February 1993, 116 cases of cirrhotic portal hypertension were treated with portazygos disconnection. 37 cases were treated with Hassab's procedure, 36 cases were treated with amplification Hassab's procedure, 33 cases were treated with pericardial devascularization with circular interruption of blood flow of fundus, 10 cases were treated with transthoracic portazygos disconnection. The operative mortality was 6.9%. The hemorrhage rate was 8.6% in one month after the operation. All of 108 patients discharged from the hospital were followed up for 14 months to 75 months. The recurrent hemorrhage rate was 18.5% in the period. The one-year and three-year survival rate after the operation were 94.2% and 81.8%, respectively. The results we have got indicate that amplification Hassab's procedure and transthoracic portazygos disconnection have good effect.

From 1978 to 1990, 35 complications were encountered in 203 cases of portoazygous disconnection in our hospital including intra-abdominal hemorrhage, AHF, ARF, ARDS, and gastric or pancreatic fistulae. The mortality rate was 8% with Hassab's operation, and 38% with Sugiura's, respectively. Emergency operation carried with a mortality of 31.1%, Whereas selective operation only 2.5%. 3.2% of all cases in Child's A group succumbed Postoperatively and 62% in Child's C group. The authors discussed the causes of the complications and ways to prevent them.

Intraoperative coronary venography was performed in 24 patients before and after portal-azygos disconnection for portal hypertension. Before the procedure the portal vein was found to be communicated with cardial and esophageal veins by two pathways, i,e., from the esophageal and gastric branches of the coronary vein to the esophageal varices, with the latter branches by way of the gastric intramural venula. The portal blood flow was postulated to be hepatofugal because the portal trunk could not be seen venographically. Coronary venography done after the disconnection revealed no pericardial and esophageal varices and the portal vein with hepatopetal blood flow. We conclude that the operation had the advantage of complete disconnection between the portal vein and the cardio-esophageal varices, thus preventing the bleeding from the varix and increasing hepatopetal blood flow.

The partial or complete obstruction of portal vein and or one of its branches is the most frequent cause of portal hypertension in children. A patient with extrahepatic portal hypertension and progressive course is presented, with great development of esophagogastric varices and multiple episodes of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. At the age of 9 years he was submitted to an azygos-portal disconnection by abdominal route, with manual transection of the esophagus, covered and protected by a gastric fundoplication. Postoperative endoscopic control demonstrated significant reduction in the size of esophageal varices and disappearance of gastric varices. Eleven months after surgery the patient was asymptomatic and a new endoscopic control showed no recurrence of varices.

The authors studied 30 patients with bleeding from esophageal varices due to portal hypertension. They underwent the disconnection of portal and azygos veins and splenectomy. The immediate postoperative complications were: portal thrombosis in four patients (13.3%); subphrenic abscess in two (6.6%); pulmonary embolism in one (3.3%) and esophageal perforation in one (3.3%). The manifestations of portal thrombosis were ascites, and fever (without leukocytosis). One patient with portal thrombosis who had intractable ascite was submitted to peritoneovenous shunting.

Ultrasonic pulsed Doppler duplex system was used to observe the portal hemodynamic changes before and after shunting or nonshunting operations. The results of preoperative measurements revealed significant increases of blood flow volumes of portal and splenic veins in portal hypertension subjects, and a positive correlation was obtained in the subjects with portal hypertension. Postoperative results showed significant reduction of portal blood flow volume more after shunting than the nonshunting operations. The etiology of portal hypertension and the causes of portal hemodynamic changes due to operations were discussed.

In this study, side-to-side mesocaval shunt (MCS-SS), pericardial devascularization (PCDV), and combined operation of the two procedures were performed in 3 groups of thioacetamide induced liver cirrhotic of rats. Portal and hepatic hemodynamics were investigated on a period of six weeks postoperation, and glucagon concentration in portal vein (PV) and inferior vena cava (IVC) was measured before and six weeks after the surgery. It was found that following PCDV, free portal pressure (FPP) was initially elevated without an increase of total hepatic blood flow (THBF) within four weeks, then both FPP and THBF were shown to decrease on the sixth week. After MCS-SS with a stoma diameter of 2.0mm, a 31% decrease of FPP (P less than 0.05) and a 23% decrease of THBF (P less than 0.05) were observed, though the portal blood flow remained hepatopetal and hyperglucagonemia in PV was not changed. After combined procedure there was a greater decrease of FPP and THBF than that after MCS-SS, and the concentration of glucagon in PV was decreased without any change of its content in IVC.

73 cases of cirrhotic portal hypertension treated in 4 years period (1982-1986) were followed by endoscope. Varices showed very little chance to disappear completely, and little difference in results between porto-azygous disconnection and that in combination with lower esophageal transection. The pressure of disconnected coronary vein on stomach side showed considerable elevation than that before and also in combination with lower esophageal transection. Continuous observation of portal pressure changes during and after operation for 4 days showed variations of amplitude suggesting redistribution of portal circulation. Judging from the series of postoperative events in follow-up, particularly rebleeding from recurrence of varices, there was renewed collateral circulation developed in the area of porto-azygous connection irrespective of the means of interruptions.

Porto-azygos disconnection is one of the therapeutic choice of portal hypertension. This technique have been used in a 13 year old boy with bleeding oesophageal varices during the evolution of a cirrhosis caused by active hepatitis. Disconnection was done in emergency using a total ligature of the oesophagus by left thoracotomy upon a clip introduced by oral way. By this technique, the abdomen and the digestive tract keep untouched. One year after the operation no oesophageal varices can be seen at endoscopy and a slight oesophageal stenosis have been easily treated by dilatations.

Forty-five patients had operative disconnections of portoazygos venous collaterals for variceal hemorrhage. Nineteen alcoholic patients had urgent partial azygos disconnection (PAD) to control bleeding; this involved intragastric variceal and coronary and distal gastric-vein ligation. A complete azygos disconnection (CAD), which also included splenectomy, was done urgently in 14 patients and electively in 12 patients; 15 were alcoholics. All patients were assessed for operative risk by a modified Child's classification. Hospital mortality after urgent PAD or CAD in alcoholics was 67%, largely due to intraperitoneal sepsis or hepatorenal failure with recurrent hemorrhage. Operative modified Child's classification of survivors was better (lower) than in nonsurvivors. Eleven nonalcoholic patients had CAD; two died of intraperitoneal sepsis. Nine survivors did not rebleed nor have encephalopathy develop during an average follow-up of 41 months. Complete azygos disconnection was a good alternative, particularly in the elective setting, for patients with nonalcoholic portal hypertension.