Treatment of portal hypertension by subtotal splenectomy and central splenorenal shunt.

A method is proposed to reduce portal hypertension utilizing subtotal splenectomy and a central splenorenal shunt. The advantages of this method are: diversion of the splenic component of the portal circulation, creation of a shunt for the portal blood into the systemic circulation, preservation of the splenic function and correction of the manifestations of the hypersplenism. Two cases are presented who remain well four years after surgery.