Warren shunt - significance in present time, an experience at tertiary care hospital in India

Abstract

Background: Portal hypertension is the presence of portal venous pressure more than 10 mm Hg. Surgery was the only treatment available for portal hypertension in the earlier times and the mortality rates were very high. In present times, about 10-15% of patients require surgery. Here we study the significance of the distal splenorenal shunt (Dean Warren shunt). Methods: We studied a total of 45 patients of portal hypertension admitted at SSKM Hospital, IPGMER, Kolkata, over a period of 5 years. This study includes the patients, ranging in age from 5 to 20 years and comprising of 5 women and 40 men. All patients were having non cirrhotic extra-hepatic portal. Results: All of the patients survived postoperatively and are in follow-up without any complication and doing well. Conclusions: Warren’s shunt is a good alternative of liver transplantation, especially for the developing countries where the facilities for liver transplantation and post-operative care are not available or good enough. It has very good results and low complication rates.