Complications of Denver peritoneovenous shunting
R. H. Lund and M. W. Moritz
The records of 49 consecutive patients treated with Denver peritoneovenous
shunts were reviewed to determine the incidence of complications and length
of patient survival. Thirty-eight complications (16 types) were identified
in 22 (45%) of the patients and, in 10 instances, contributed to subsequent
death. Ten percent of shunts failed during long-term follow-up. The 54%
one-year survival by life-table analysis of patients with cirrhosis treated
with the Denver shunt matched results previously reported for similar
patients treated with the LeVeen shunt. Patients with intra-abdominal
malignant neoplasms had an 11% one-year survival overall. Although it too
is associated with significant complications, the Denver peritoneovenous
shunt seems to have a lower failure rate and a lower incidence of
complications than the LeVeen peritoneovenous shunt. Thus, the Denver shunt
offers advantages in the treatment of intractable ascites.
