Results of interposition "H" grafts for portal hypertension.

During the past nine years, 54 patients underwent interposition graft shunting for variceal bleeding in 48 and intractable ascites in six, either electively (35 instances) or as an emergency (13 instances). Autogenous jugular was used in 41 instances, homologous vena cava in nine and Dacron in five. The interposition graft was placed between superior mesenteric vein and vena cava in 36 instances and the portal vein and vena cava in 19. Using Child's Clinical Classification 44 were Class C and 10 Class B. There were six (11%) operative deaths with one (2.4%) in the elective and five (38%) in the emergency group. Encephalopathy was seen in 4 (10%) of those surviving more than one year. Two Dacron and two homografts thrombosed. Eight of the autografts were patent at autopsy, 18 on angiography and 15 assumed to be patent because patients were asymptomatic. Only one of 12 late deaths was related to grafts failure. Apparently the operation controls ascites and the autogenous jugular vein is the ideal material. Interposition "H" grafting is a simple safe procedure that can be used for portal decompression in patients with bleeding varices.