Portopulmonary shunt by splenopneumopexy for portal hypertension in children

Abstract

Portopulmonary shunting by splenopneumopexy was successfully performed on seven children with portal hypertension, associated with extrahepatic portal vein occlusion in six and congenital hepatic fibrosis in one. Technically, this procedure is very simple and safely performed even in infancy. No operative mortality has been encountered to date. All children with portal hypertension treated by this portopulmonary shunt are doing very well, without any disturbances in their growth. Their postoperative survival ranges from 8 years and 9 months to 17 years and 9 months. Splenic pulp pressure was reduced to a postoperative mean value of 306 +/- 40.7 mmH2O from a preoperative mean value of 402.9 +/- 35.7 mmH2O. Hemorrhages esophageal varices were completely controlled postoperatively. Postoperative liver function tests were essentially unchanged from the preoperative values.