Distal splenorenal (Warren) shunt in the management of actively bleeding oesophageal varices.

Distal splenorenal shunts have been performed on 53 patients during or soon after variceal haemorrhage. In 38 patients active haemorrhage was occurring at the time of operation or was controlled by tamponade and 12 of these patients died. There was no mortality in the semi-elective group. A higher mortality was found in patients with poor liver reserve and in whom prolonged conservative management had been attempted. Rebleeding occurred in 20 per cent of patients in the early postoperative period and this was a significant factor in the death of three patients. Of 39 patients with longer term follow-up, 8 suffered minor encephalopathy. Subsequent mortality could be related to the progression of liver disease and was no worse than that seen in a population of cirrhotic patients.