[Selective distal splenorenal shunt, surgery for portal hypertension. Experience of a general hospital]. / Derivación esplenorenal distal selectiva, cirugía de la hipertensión portal. Experiencia de un hospital general.

From 1982 to 1987, twenty patients underwent Distal Splenorenal Shunt. The surgical indication was hemorrhagic portal hypertension: two cases were done on an emergency basis and eighteen electively. In all patients endoscopy was performed, and the bleeding site was documented; splenoportography was done to 70% and the remaining had selective arteriography with venous phase. Portal pressure was measured during splenoportography or during the operation with catheterization of the right gastroepiploic vein. We had a preoperative histopathologic diagnosis in 60% of the cases. The overall preoperative mortality was 10%, with ascites in seven patients, pancreatic pseudocyst in one, chylous retrogastric collection in one and, encephalopathy in one case. The predicted overall survival for a 5-year period is 77%. We think this surgery can be done in the general hospitals of small cities.