Portal biliopathy in patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: does the type of surgery affect outcome?

Objectives: After portosystemic anastomoses for biliopathy, some patients continue to suffer biliary obstruction. The effects of splenectomy and devascularization of the abdominal oesophagus and upper stomach are unclear. The aim of the current study was to determine the features of portal biliopathy (PB) in patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, and to investigate outcomes in these patients after surgical procedures.

Abdominal packing for surgically uncontrollable haemorrhage.

Background: Using abdominal packs is often a life-saving technique for uncontrollable bleeding during operations. It prevents worsening of the hypothermia, coagulopathy and acidosis which usually accompanies massive bleeding till they may be corrected and the packs removed later. However, packing may be associated with a mortality of 56 to 82% due to continued bleeding, intra-abdominal abscesses and the compartment syndrome.