management of hypersplenism in portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

Splenectomy is the treatment of choice in controlling hypersplenism complicating liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. It has the added benefit of eliminating the physical discomfort associated with the very large spleens that many of these patients have. Porto-systemic shunting alone seems to have limited value in the control of hyperspienism but should be added to splenectomy when control of portal hypertension is indicated for bleeding varices