The Place of the Peritoneovenous Shunt in the Treatment of Ascites

The peritoneovenous shunt (PVS) is a safe procedure; all of its complications have been found to be preventable. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) can be a life threatening complication but has been completely eliminated by draining the ascitic fluid at the time of surgery, as it is caused by the introduction of excessive quantities of peritoneal fluid into the venous system. Peritoneal fluid is rich in tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), which is inhibited by epsilon aminocaproic acid. This substance has been successfully used to treat postshunt coagulopathy. The salt retention associated with ascites is related to a diminished plasma volume, a condition further aggravated by diuretic drugs. A PVS should be inserted if the patient does not respond to a salt restricted diet. Occult peritonitis occurs in 10% of cirrhotic ascites. The shunt does not prevent this, and a high percentage of late shunt failures are caused by fibrinopurulent debris in the valve. The valve system should not contain a pump, which disseminates infection and causes fatal emboli; pumping and flushing are seldom remedial and often dangerous. Because the complications of the shunt are all preventable, the indications for the shunt should be liberalized.