Ascites following portacaval shunting. Relationship between wedged hepatic venous pressure and ascites.

When present, ascites usually disappears after portacaval shunt. In an oc· casional patient, however, ascites may appear after portacaval shunt even when not present before operation. This work reviews the mechanisms of ascites formation following patent portacaval shunt. Hepatic hemodynamic studies were performed in 24 patients with alcoholic liver disease. The results suggest that ascites is more likely to occur after end-to-side portacaval shunt in those patients who maintain a relatively high sinusoidal pressure and hepatic arterial blood flow.