88 porto systemic shunts were performed between 1977-1985; 14 failures were observed. These failures occurred in ten children with extra-hepatic portal obstruction and in four with intra-hepatic obstruction. The treatment of these failures was different in these two groups: 7 reoperations in the extra-hepatic obstruction, none in the intra-hepatic. That reoperation is often not suitable in the intrahepatic obstruction because of the hepatic failure. The use of sclerotherapy or the beta receptor blocking agents is discussed in this group.