Clinical outcome of the modified Sugiura procedure for treatment of portal hypertension

Objective To study the safety and efficacy of the modified Sugiura procedure for treating patients with portal hypertension.Methods Thirty-nine patients with portal hypertension who underwent surgical treatment with the modified Sugiura procedure between September 2009 and March 2011 were retrospectively enrolled in the study.Perioperative and clinical (in-hospital and 6-18 months follow-up) data were assessed.Results The surgeries were successfully completed in all cases.None of the cases experienced post-operative stomal leakage, pyoperitoneum, or hepatic encephalopathy.One patient developed secondary intra-abdominal bleeding that was resolved by resuturing of the affected gastric vein.Gastroscopy at one-month follow-up showed that the esophageal varices had disappeared or been remarkably ameliorated in all patients.None of the cases experienced hepatic encephalopathy or rebleeding after the gastroscopic procedure.All patients survived.Conclusion The modified Sugiura procedure has low rates of postoperative mobidity and complications, and is a safe and effective surgical procedure for portal hypertension.