[The hemodynamic significance of the angiographic changes after portasystemic shunting interventions for portal hypertension].

Seventy-two patients (52 males and 20 females, mean age: 50.6 years) were studied. They had undergone distal splenorenal shunts according to Warren and its modifications for portal hypertension. All patients were examined with digital and/or conventional angiography preoperatively and 15 days postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative angiography was employed to evaluate the changes in vessel diameters including the hepatic, splenic and superior mesenteric arteries, the splenic, superior mesenteric and portal veins; the length of the main axis of the spleen was also measured. Furthermore, the degree of hepatic portal venous perfusion was evaluated according to the degree of portomesenteric-gastrosplenic disconnection. After surgery, the length of the main axis of the spleen is reduced and the hepatic artery diameter is increased, which are both signs of preserved hepatic flow and of reduced hypertension in the splanchnic venous system. The postoperative degrees of portal perfusion were correlated with the degrees of disconnection. In conclusion, the role is emphasized of early angiographic examinations after distal portosystemic shunts according to Warren to evaluate postoperative hemodynamic changes.