Increased platelet count as a screening test for distal splenorenal shunt patency.

Hypersplenism was not relieved by distal splenorenal shunting in 46 of 47 Japanese patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. However, the platelet count significantly increased by 40 percent of the preoperative value, whereas the increment in the white blood cell count was nil. Though the platelet count in 47 patients with a patent shunt did not significantly differ from that in another 7 patients with an occluded shunt, the rate of increase was significantly higher in those with patency than in those with early occlusion throughout the postoperative period and in those with late occlusion 6 months after operation. The increased rate of the platelet count can thus serve to screen patients for shunt patency.