Abstract

Between June 1977 and November 1980, we performed portal systemic shunt operations on eight patients for esophageal bleeding secondary to portal venous hypertension. One patient had operation as an emergency and the other seven semi-electively during the same hospitalization as admission. The patient operated upon as an emergency was the only hospital death. life table analysis on this small group of patients indicates that semi-elective portal systemic shunt surgery after hemodynamic stabilization, nutritional support, and improvement of hepatic function is a viable alternative to emergency operation that can be done effectively in a community hospital.