A Portocaval Shunt Is Considered for a Patient with Cirrhosis

A portocaval shunt is considered for a patient with cirrhosis following an episode of bleeding esophageal varices. The nurse plans to teach the patient that this procedure

A) is likely to improve the patient's life expectancy.
B) will increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy.
C) will help to decrease the incidence of peritonitis.
D) is a first-line therapy for portal hypertension.