Reoperations for Bleeding Portal Hypertension. Surgical Rescue of Surgical Failures

BACKGROUND Surgery for portal hypertension has a low rebleeding rate. Patients that rebleed can be grossly divided into those who die as a consequence of the episode, those who don't die but develop liver failure (remaining as Child-Pugh C) and those who, in spite of the bleeding episode, retain good liver function (Child-Pugh A or B). At our hospital, the latter group is considered for further surgical treatment. We report here the results of surgical rescue of surgical failures. METHODS In a twenty year period, 36 patients (30 Child-Pugh A, 6 Child-Pugh B) were reoperated. The files of these patients were reviewed. RESULTS Average age was 33 years. Cirrhosis was present in 31 cases. All patients were electively reoperated with portal blood flow preserving procedures. Operative mortality for the whole group was 12% and for the Child-Pugh A group 6.6%. Rebleeding was observed in 5.5%. Postoperative incapacitating encephalopathy was recorded in one case (2.7%). Good quality of life was recorded in 84% of the cases. Survival (Kaplan-Meier) was 78% at 6 months and 69% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS Surgical failures in low risk patients (Child-Pugh A or B) can be treated by means of surgery, and a low mortality, re-bleeding and encephalopathy rate can be expected. The performance of a portal blood flow preserving procedure is recommended.