The studies on the extrahepatic portal hemodynamics in 37 cases with liver cirrhosis

We studied the abnormality of extrahepatic portal hemodynamics in 37 cases with liver cirrhosis, by percutaneous transhepatic portography and divided the subjects into two groups, i.e. 20 cases having mainly the collaterals except esophageal varices [group I]and 17 cases of the esophageal varices [group II]. In group I, there were 8 paraumbilical, 4 gastro-renal, 2 spleno-renal and 6 superior or inferior mesenteric vein-inferior vena cava shuntings. Twelve cases (60%) had hepatic encephalopathy in group I (5 paraumbilical, 1 spleno-renal and all 6 superior or inferior mesenteric vein-inferior vena cava shuntings). On the other hand, only one case (6%) had hepatic encephalopathy in group II, whose esophageal varices were diverted from the superior mesenteric vein. The occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy had a statistical significance between the two groups (p