[Indications for portacaval anastomoses in portal hypertension due to alcoholic cirrhosis. (Role of anatomo-pathological examination.)].

The authors report their experience of 134 cases of porta-caval anastomosis for alcoholic cirrhosis. From their experience, they draw up the logical indications for this operation, i.e. in order to ensure better survival than that of patients treated in other ways. They suggest routine study of surgical biopsy, even as an emergency. This biopsy permits them to recognise which cases are liable to be progressive; in severe cases, surgery should not be undertaken. Thanks to this selection, the operative mortality is reduced to that of any other severe operation (6 p. 100) and later survival is improved owing to absence of recurrent hemorrhage.