Splenectomy associated with ligature of the left gastric vein in children with surgical schistosomiasis: analysis of the hepatic functional reserve

Abstract

Splenectomy and ligature of the left gastric vein in children with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni and bleeding esophageal varices produce a decrease of the portal hepatic blood flow and increase in the hepatic arterial flow. The effects of these hemodinamic changes in the liver could, theoretically, deteriorate the hepatic functional reserve of these patients. Forty children with this pathology underwent that kind of treatment and they were followed-up, prospectively , mean follow up of 48 months, regard to their hepatic functional reserve. Before surgery, thirteen children were classified as "good risk - grade A" in the Child’s criteria for assessment of the hepatic reserve and twenty seven as "moderate risk - grade B". The mean serum albumin concentration was 3.16g/dl ± 0.62g/dl. Only in one patient the serum bilirubin concentration was slightly greater than 2mg/dl. After surgery, fifteen patients were diagnosed as "good risk - A" and twenty five as "moderate risk - B". The mean serum albumin concentration was 3.25g/dl ± 0.50g/dl. Similarly one patient in the post-operative follow-up has presented with serum bilirubin concentration greater than 2mg/dl. Additionally, after surgery there was a significant improvement in the plasma prothrombin levels. These findings support the idea that there has been no deterioration of the hepatic functional reserve of these patients.