[The emergency portacaval shunt in the treatment of persistent hemorrhage from gastroesophageal varices (author's transl)].

From 1963 to March 1980 a delayed portacaval emergency shunt was carried out in 103 unselected patients with persistent hemorrhage from gastroesophageal varices. A portacaval shunt was not performed in patients with hepatic coma and renal insufficiency. Operative mortality was 29% with 10% in cases with risk A, 26% in cases with risk B, and 58% in risk C according to Child's classification.