For a two-year period (1987-1988) 14 peritoneal-venous shunts with Le Veen's valve were performed in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites. Immediate effect, manifested by decrease in the abdominal circumference and diminution or even complete disappearance of ascites with increased diuresis, was observed in 12 patients. Two patients died during the early postoperative period. The indications, postoperative preparation, operative technique, complications and postoperative care in this type of operative intervention are discussed. Inference is made that the good postoperative results depend on the need patients with refractory ascites to report early enough for operative treatment.