In a group of 79 patients hospitalized on account of haemorrhage associated with portal hypertension the authors evaluate the diagnostic yield of radiological and sonographic methods. Sonography is a non-invasive procedure and is useful for routine checks of the function of the anastomosis. Direct contrast examinations are essential in preoperative reflections and for evaluation of possible complications of an already established shunt. Indirect procedures are in the latter two instances inadequate and unreliable.