[Meso-renal derivation. A surgical alternative in the treatment of portal hypertension].

Meso-renal shunt (MRS) has been designed for patients with biliary cirrhosis and portal hypertension, in whom the derivation of the portal flow must be done prior to the biliary surgery. We performed the MRS in five patients. In three due to secondary biliary cirrhosis, one case due to criptogenic cirrhosis and the last presenting cavernomatous degeneration of the portal vein. After the MRS one patient died 33 days later due to acute liver failure and hepatorenal syndrome. Of the survivors three are enjoying normal lifestyle, one of them was underwent colecistectomy and coledocostomy without any surgical problems. One patient was lost to follow up out presenting at that time chronic porta-systemic encephalopathy. When necessary the MRS may offer a satisfactory choice, since can be performed far from the subhepatic area, thus allowing to perform further biliary surgery.