Portacaval shunt
Portacaval shunt is a surgical procedure that creates a connection between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava, which are two major blood vessels in the abdomen. This procedure is typically performed to reduce high blood pressure in the portal vein (a condition known as portal hypertension) that can occur as a result of liver disease.
Indications[edit | edit source]
Portacaval shunt is primarily indicated for patients with severe portal hypertension, often due to cirrhosis of the liver. This condition can lead to life-threatening complications such as esophageal varices and gastrointestinal bleeding. The shunt can help to reduce the pressure in the portal vein and prevent these complications.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
During a portacaval shunt procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen and locates the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. A connection is then created between these two vessels, allowing blood to flow from the portal vein directly into the inferior vena cava. This bypasses the liver, reducing the pressure in the portal vein.
Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]
As with any surgical procedure, a portacaval shunt carries some risks. These can include infection, bleeding, and complications related to anesthesia. In addition, there is a risk of hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that can cause confusion and other neurological symptoms due to the buildup of toxins in the blood that are normally removed by the liver.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Portacaval shunt Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
