Portacaval shunt
A portacaval shunt is a treatment for portal hypertension. A connection is made between the portal vein, which supplies 75% of the liver's blood, and the inferior vena cava, the vein that drains blood from the lower two-thirds of the body. The most common causes of liver disease resulting in portal hypertension are Budd–Chiari Syndrome or Cirrhosis. Budd–Chiari should not be mistaken for Cirrhosis.
Less common causes include diseases such as hemochromatosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and portal vein thrombosis.
Cirrhotic patients often develop hepatic encephalopathy following the procedure, sometimes resulting in coma. The high risk of developing HE may be a consequence of increased intestinal absorption of encephalopathogenic substances in combination with the reduced hepatic blood flow.
