Serum albumin, pseudocholine-sterase, and transaminases in the assessment of liver function before and after venous shunt operations.

This paper records biochemical and follow-up observations on 153 patients with cirrhosis who have had a shunt operation. The experience confirms that no shunt operation should be undertaken on a patient whose serum albumin level is less than 3.2g.%. Low pseudocholinesterase levels are of help diagnostically but the main value of this test is in indicating whether or not liver function will deteriorate after a shunt operation in any given patient.