Protective Role of the Portocaval Shunt in Liver Transplantation.

•Modifications in the surgical technique, such as the realization of the portocaval shunt, could influence survival rates.•The most frequent cause of death after liver transplantation is infection.•The use of basiliximab did not show, in our population, a relationship with the risk of death.•The performance of portocaval shunt exerted a protective effect, reducing the probability of death by 70%.