[The fate of Warren's splenorenal shunt in the era of sclerotherapy]

Abstract

From 1969 to 1990, 52 patients underwent splenorenal shunt after one or more esophageal variceal hemorrhages. Sixty days' mortality was 15.4% (8 deaths). 3 patients were lost to follow-up soon after hospital discharge. The remaining 41 patients could be followed for 5.5 years on average: 26 died, 3 were lost to follow-up late after discharge and 12 are presently alive. Only 4 of the followed-up patients suffered recurrent bleeding due to a thrombosed shunt. Temporary mental disturbances were noted in 4 cases but no incapacitating encephalopathy was recorded. In the last 10 years, performance of the Warren shunt has decreased strikingly as a result of the increasing popularity of endoscopic sclerotherapy. Surgical and anesthetic techniques have, however, improved too, resulting in a lower morbidity and mortality rate. Recurrent bleeding and neurological sequelae being rare, we conclude that distal splenorenal shunt remains a valuable alternative to long-term sclerotherapy in selected cases.