Elective Portal Systemic Shunt

Abstract

THERE have been several previous reports^{1 2 3} from the Massachusetts General Hospital on various aspects of the problems of portal hypertension.This report presents an analysis of the 237 elective portal systemic shunts from the first operation carried out in 1945 to January, 1959. During the past few years an increasing number of portacaval shunts have been done, permitting a more adequate comparison with the splenorenal shunts and a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the two procedures. Since the choice of operation was made purposefully rather than randomly, the comparison loses some validity, but the information is presented with . . .