Development of portsoystemic shunts after subcutaneous and extraperitoneal transposition of resected spleen.

After subcutaneous transposition of the spleen in rats a rapid development of portosystemic collaterals occurs. It is demonstrated that variations in types and extent of splenic resection and in location after transposition lead to differences in collateral development. It is shown that the hilus portion of the spleen is the most important part to preserve. Extraperitonealization leads to less collateral development than does transposition to the subcutis.