Operative morbidity after shunt surgery for portal hypertension.

The operative morbidity observed in a consecutive series of 286 patients who underwent shunt surgery for portal hypertension is reported. 149 patients out of 286 (52.1%) had a postoperative complication, which required reoperation in 11 cases (5 intestinal perforations, 2 bleeding peptic ulcers, 1 eventratio, 1 cholestasis, 1 acute pancreatitis, 1 strangulated hernia). 42 patients out of the 149 with complications died of the complication (operative mortality 14.6%). Operative morbidity and mortality appeared higher in patients operated as emergencies. Whereas elective shunts gave better results. The problem involved in preventing and treating the serious complications following shunt surgery for portal hypertension are discussed.