Portal hypertension
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| The portal vein and its tributaries. | |
| ICD-10 | K76.6 |
| ICD-9 | 572.3 |
| DiseasesDB | 10388 |
| eMedicine | radio/570 med/1889 |
| MeSH | D006975 |
In medicine, portal hypertension is hypertension (high blood pressure) in the portal vein and its branches. It is often defined as a portal pressure gradient (the difference in pressure between the portal vein and the hepatic veins) of 12 mm Hg or greater. Many conditions can result in portal hypertension, but it is usually the result of cirrhosis of the liver.
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[edit] Signs and symptoms
Consequences of portal hypertension are caused by blood being forced down alternate channels by the increased resistance to flow through the portal system. They include:
- Ascites (free fluid in the peritoneal cavity)
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Palmar erythema
- Clubbing
- Increased risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- Increased risk of hepatorenal syndrome
- Splenomegaly (enlargment of the spleen)
- anastomoses. Specific types are as follows:
| Name/description | portal circulation | systemic circulation |
| Esophageal varices (dilated veins in the wall of the esophagus that are prone to bleed) | left gastric vein | esophageal veins |
| Rectal varices (hemorrhoids) | superior rectal vein | middle rectal veins and inferior rectal veins |
| caput medusae (distended abdominal wall veins ) | paraumbilical veins | inferior epigastric vein |
[edit] Treatment
[edit] Medical management
Treatment with a non-selective beta blocker is generally commenced once portal hypertension has been diagnosed, typically with propranolol. In acute or severe complications of the hypertension, such as bleeding varices, intravenous terlipressin (an antidiuretic hormone analogue) is commenced to decrease the portal pressure.
[edit] Percutaneous interventions
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting is the creation of a connection between the portal and the venous system. As the pressure over the venous system is lower than over a hypertensive portal system, this would decrease the pressure over the portal system and a decreased risk of complications.
[edit] Surgical interventions
The most definitive treatment of portal hypertension is a liver transplant.
