Hemodynamic Changes with Cirrhosis of the Liver

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An increase in cardiac output, blood volume, stroke work, and systolic ejection rate, and a decrease in peripheral resistance are found in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. These hemodynamic alterations are similar to those found in patients with systemic arteriovenous fistula and suggest the presence of multiple arteriovenous fistulas in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Fifty-one patients during a 12-yr. period have been operated upon to remove as many of these arteriovenous shunts as possible and to decrease the arterial flow into the portal system. An unusual number of poor-risk patients have attributed to a high operative mortality. Five-year survival, excluding postoperative mortality, was 75%. This operation is recommended for treatment of esophageal varices.