Abstract:
Background: Idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a rare disease characterized by increased portal venous
pressure in the absence of cirrhosis and other causes of liver diseases. The aim of the present study was to
present our results in using portosystemic shunt surgery in patients with INCPH.
Material/Methods: Patients who had been referred to our Liver Transplantation Institute for liver transplantation and who had
undergone surgery from January 2010 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with INCPH
who had undergone portosystemic shunt procedure were included in the study. Age, sex, symptoms and findings,
type of portosystemic shunt, and postoperative complications were assessed.
Results: A total of 1307 patients underwent liver transplantation from January 2010 to December 2015. Eleven patients
with INCPH who did not require liver transplantation were successfully operated on with a portosystemic shunt
procedure. The mean follow-up was 30.1±19 months (range 7–69 months). There was no mortality in the perioperative
period or during the follow-up. Two patients underwent surgery again due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage;
one had bleeding from the surgical site except the portacaval anastomosis and the other had bleeding
from the h-graft anastomosis. No patient developed encephalopathy and no patient presented with esophageal
variceal bleeding after portosystemic shunt surgery. Shunt thrombosis occurred in 1 patient (9.9%). Only
1 patient developed ascites, which was controlled medically.
Conclusions: Portosystemic shunt surgery is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of patients with INCPH.
MeSH Keywords: Ascites • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage • Hypertension, Portal • Liver Transplantation •
Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical • Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical
