Portal vein obstruction in patients requiring hepatic resection or transplantation.

Four patients with chronic portal vein occlusion (or near occlusion) who required major hepatic resection or transplantation are described. In each case, portal vein patency was restored, and objective evidence of long-term patency is presented in three patients. These patients demonstrate the feasibility of restoring and indefinitely maintaining portal venous flow coincident to major hepatic surgery.