The mesocaval "H" graft: experience with 22 cases.

During the past 32 months, 22 consecutive unselected patients who had bled from oesophageal varices have undergone mesocaval "H" graft operations. There have been nine deaths, three in the early and six in the late postoperative periods. Two deaths were the result of bleeding complicating severe primary fibrinolysis and three were due to disseminated sepsis, one originating from an infected shunt. Continued alcohol intake may have contributed to five of the late deaths. Ten of the 19 patients who left hospital developed some degree of hepatic encephalopathy easily controlled by diet and medical therapy. However, in one case the development of grade IV coma necessitated ligation of the shunt to reverse the coma. Patency of the shunt was demonstrated in all but one patient. Recurrence of bleeding occurred only in this patient and the one in whom the shunt was ligated. Although the operation had a comparatively low operative mortality, the long-term mobidity and mortality were no better than those of the more conventional portacaval anastomosis.