Shuntchirurgie im Hinblick auf die Indikation zur Lebertransplantation.

Sclerotherapy and protosystemic shunt surgery are established procedures for treating bleeding esophageal varices. Liver transplantation (OLT) has not yet been established as primary therapy of portal hypertension. In a series of 43 patients with uncontrollable bleeding, shunt surgery was employed in 26 patients with contra-indications to OLT and in 2 whose liver disease had not progressed. In the remaining 15 patients, OLT was performed in urgent (n = 8) and emergency settings (n = 7). The results obtained indicate that immediate shunting in nontransplant candidates results in one-year survival for 67-83% of Child's class A or B Patients and only 42% Child's C category regardless of the type of shunt procedure performed. In transplant candidates with a similar risk status (Child's B and C) 5 of 8 patients receiving an urgent transplant and 4 of 7 patients receiving emergency OLT during active bleeding survived for one year or more. These results indicate that bleeding varices can be treated successfully by OLT.