Portohepatography by rectal administration of sodium iodide-131 in early diagnosis of portal hypertension

The paper describes the application of a modified rectal 131I-resorption test as a portohepatographic procedure which could serve as a routine test for the early diagnosis of portal hypertension in cirrhosis and other conditions affecting the portal circulation. The test would enable the surgeon to perform an early portosystemic shunt operation to prevent the development of oesophageal varices and the much dreaded haemorrhages from such varices. The procedure could also be used to check the continued patency of a shunt, once a shunt operation has been carried out. (author)