Hepatic myelopathy: a rare complication of portacaval shunt

Eur Neurol. 1994;34(4):209-12. doi: 10.1159/000117040.

Abstract

Myelopathy is a rare complication of chronic liver disease associated with extensive portal-systemic shunt of blood. Its main clinical feature is a spastic paraparesis without sensory or sphincteric impairment. We describe 3 patients who presented hepatic myelopathy following the performance of a portacaval shunt.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / etiology
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / surgery*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Spasticity / etiology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Paraplegia / etiology*
  • Portacaval Shunt, Surgical*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*