The surgical treatment of portal hypertension.

Portacaval shunt operations were done in 15 of 18 patients who were treated surgically for portal hypertension. In eight cases the shunt was established by splenorenal anastomosis; in seven by anastomosis of the portal vein to the side of the inferior vena cava. Of the eight patients with splenorenal shunt, two are well, four are considered improved, and two have died. Of the seven in whom the portal vein was joined to the vena cava, two are improved, one is unimproved, and four have died.