Splenoportography--a valuable diagnostic technic, revisited.

The value of splenoportography in evaluating patients with portal hypertension was assessed. The technic was found to be useful in estimating portal-venous pressure, ruling out portal vein thrombosis, evaluating the superior mesenteric and portal veins as to their suitability for shunt procedures, and defining anatomy and collateral pathways. Splenoportography is a relatively simple procedure which provides excellent visualization of the portal venous system. Other methods may require special expertise and may not yield sufficient diagnostic information.