[The gastro-intestinal effects of portal hypertension. Role of highly selective vagotomy. Experimental study in the rat (author's transl)].

Portal hypertension was obtained by portal ligature in the rat by an original procedure. Hemodynamic and pathological studies were performed at the end of the 4th postoperative month. Portal hypertension causes macroscopic and histological lesions in particular in the stomach and small intestine. The lesions observed were superficial desquamation, interstitial oedema, submucosal fibrosis, ulcers, and superficial or total necrosis of the intestine. Splenic fibrosis with congestion of the medullary sinuses is usual. A collateral circulation towards the liver and caval system develops rapidly. We never observed oesophageal varices. The main cause of splanchnic modifications was vascular stasis to which should perhaps be added humoral changes. Highly selective vagotomy does not protect the splanchnic area against lesions induced by portal ligature.