The influence of periportal (pipestem) fibrosis on long term results of surgical treatment for schistosomotic portal hypertension.

Aim: To evaluate the degree of influence that periportal fibrosis has on clinical development and the long term results of surgical treatment on patients with hepatic-splenic schistosomiasis with previous gastrointestinal hemorrhages.

Methods: During the period of 1992-1998, 111 patients underwent surgical treatment for the treatment of hepatic-splenic schistosomiasis with previous gastrointestinal hemorrhages. The degree of fibrosis was classified as: degree I - the portal spaces show a rich increase of young connective cells, a slight collagen production and a varying presence of inflammatory infiltrate.