portacaval shunt

shunt (shunt)

1. to turn to one side; to bypass.

2. a passage or anastomosis between two natural channels, especially between blood vessels, formed physiologically or anomalously.

3. a surgically created anastomosis; also, the operation of forming a shunt.

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arteriovenous shunt 

1. the diversion of blood from an artery directly to a vein.

2. a U-shaped plastic tube inserted between an artery and a vein; usually to allow repeated access to the arterial system for hemodialysis.

Blalock-Taussig shunt  see under operation.

cardiovascular shunt  diversion of the blood flow through an anomalous opening from the left side of the heart to the right side or from the systemic to the pulmonary circulation (left-to-right s.), or from the right side to the left side or from the pulmonary to the systemic circulation (right-to-left s.) .

left-to-right shunt  see cardiovascular s.

LeVeen peritoneovenous shunt  continuous shunting of ascites fluid from the peritoneal cavity to the jugular vein by means of a surgically implanted subcutaneous plastic tube.

portacaval shunt  surgical anastomosis of the portal vein and the vena cava.

Shunts diverting portal venous blood flow from the liver. (A), Portacaval shunt; (B), splenorenal shunt.

right-to-left shunt  see cardiovascular s.

splenorenal shunt  removal of the spleen with anastomosis of the splenic vein to the left renal vein.

Shunts diverting portal venous blood flow from the liver. (A), Portacaval shunt; (B), splenorenal shunt.

ventriculoatrial shunt  the surgical creation of a communication between a cerebral ventricle and a cardiac atrium by means of a plastic tube, to permit drainage of cerebrospinal fluid for relief of hydrocephalus.

ventriculoperitoneal shunt  a communication between a cerebral ventricle and the peritoneum by means of plastic tubing; done for the relief of hydrocephalus.

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portacaval shunt

n.

Any of various communications between the portal vein and the general circulation, especially a surgical anastomosis between the portal vein and the vena cava.

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portacaval shunt

[pôr′təkā′vəl]

Etymology: L, porta, gateway, cavus, cavity; ME, shunten

a shunt created surgically to increase blood flow from the portal circulation by carrying it into the vena cava.

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portacaval, portocaval

pertaining to or connecting the portal vein and caudal vena cava.

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portacaval anastomosis

surgical, traumatic or congenital defect resulting in an anastomosis between the portal vein and the caudal vena cava including a portal-azygos anastomosis, or the portal vein and the hepatic artery resulting in portal hypertension. More commonly provides the physical basis for a portacaval shunt.

portacaval shunt

single or multiple abnormalities, intrahepatic or extrahepatic in location, result in venous blood from the intestine bypassing the liver. Hyperammonemia results and leads to neurological dysfunction (hepatic encephalopathy). Other clinical signs include weight loss or poor growth from an early age, vomiting, diarrhea, voracious appetite and polydipsia.

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portacaval shunt

Surgery A procedure in which the portal vein is anastomosed with the inferior vena cava, diverting blood away from the portal venous system, reducing portal HTN–which causes the feared and potentially fatal complication of cirrhosis, exsanguination from esophageal varices