Animal experiments on the hemodynamics of prehepatic portal hypertension before and following various methods of portacaval anastomosis

In 24 dogs (29 +/- 5,7 kg) general and intestinal hemodynamics were measured during acute prehepatic portal hypertension before and after mesentericocaval, splenorenal, and splenocaval (SCA) shunt. From the hemodynamic point of view the SCA is superior because of its complete venous decompression of the region of the spleen and cardia and a greater blood flow to the liver. Furthermore shunt flow, and consequently volume load imposed on the general circulation, is significantly smaller in SCA.