Objective To explore and summarize the curative effect and experience of emergency devascularization for treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension. Melthods The clinical data of 42 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension， undergoing emergency devascularization from March 2006 to July 2011 in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of the 42 cases， 29 patients underwent emergency splenectomy plus esophagogastric devascularization， 8 patients underwent emergency spleen artery ligation plus esophagogastric devascularization， and 5 patients only underwent emergency esophagogastric devascularization. The hemostasis rate at 3 hours after emergent disconnection operation was 100%. One patient died of liver failure on 8 days after operation. Three patients supervened with hemorrhage in abdominal cavity on 2 days after operation， and succeeded in hemostasis by conservative treatment. Other patients were successfullydischarged from hospital after postoperative rehabilitation for 2-4 weeks. All cases were followed up regular in 1 year after operation， 5 patients were lost to follow-up. Among the 36 cases followed up， rehaemorrhagia occurred in 1 patientin 8 months after operation， cured by endoscopic variceal ligation subsequently. A primary liver cancer occurred in 1 patient during physical examination in 7 months after operation， followed by partial hepatectomy. Other patients could complete daily life and work. Conclusions The patients suffering from upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension are likely to benefit from appropriate operations. Decisive emergency devascularization can stop the bleeding rapidly and effectively， and save the lives of those patients.