Question

A 42-year-old man with portal hypertension secondary to cirrhosis of the liver and subsequent massive ascites presents to the emergency department. He refuses to have a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure and prefers surgery. Which surgical connections is involved in the most practical method of shunting portal blood around the liver?

A) superior mesenteric vein to the inferior mesenteric vein
B) portal vein to the superior vena cava
C) Portal vein to the left renal vein
D) Splenic vein to the left renal vein
E) Superior rectal vein to the left colic vein

Answer 1

The most practical surgical method to shunt blood around the liver for a patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension is connecting the portal vein to the superior vena cava.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most practical method of shunting portal blood around the liver in a patient with portal hypertension secondary to cirrhosis is by creating a connection between the portal vein and inferior vena cava, which is the answer option B) portal vein to the superior vena cava. This type of surgical shunt helps to reduce the increased pressure in the portal system by diverting blood flow directly into the systemic circulation, bypassing the liver. Other types of surgical shunts exist, but this option is the most direct and commonly used method when a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is not preferred or feasible.