20 cases of portal hypertention operated on by the author are summarized. The operative mortality was 5
There were striking differences in underlying causes and presenting symptoms between Korean and American population. Among koreans, splenomegaly and hypersplenism were earlier symptoms of the portal hypertention while bleeding esophageal varicies and ascites occured rather late in the course . of the disease. The underlying liver diseases were rather bizarre in many instances, and mostly post-necrotic cirrhosis. Portal vein thrombosis was a frequent cause of portal hypertention among koreans. Althought there were 4 cases who must be considered alcoholic, in all of these, the cause was due to post-necrotic type of liver cirrhosis. In a siries of 14 liver disease case, there was not a single case of Laennec cirrhosis included.
In view of the presence of huge splenomegaly, severe hypersplenism and adequate, sized splenic vein in almost every cases of portal hypertention, spienectomy with spleno-renal shunt is considered the procedure of choice in the treatment of portal hypertention among korean population.
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