Portal Hypertension Flashcards
what is portal hypertension
Caused by an increased resistance to venous flow through the liver
what is portal hypertension associated with?
Cirrhosis
hepatic vein thrombosis
portal vein thrombosis
thrombosis of the IVC
what veins may be dilated?
Portal, splenic and mesenteric
What may occur to blood flow
It can be reversed (hepatfugal blood flow, away from the liver)
what may develop in portal hypertension
collateral vessels
what is Portal venous hypertension
Increase in portal venous pressure or hepatic venous gradient
when does portal venous hypertension exist?
When portal venous pressure is above 10mm/Hg or hepatic venous gradient is more then 5mm/Hg
What groups are portal hypertension divided into?
Presinusoidal
intrahepatic groups
what are groups dependant on?
whether hepatic vein wedged pressure is normal(presinusoidal) or elevated (intrahepatic)
what can acute or chronic hepatocellular disease do?
block the flow of blood throughout the liver, causing it to back up into hepatic portal circulation
Causes increased blood pressure which causes portal hypertension
what are collateral veins also known as?
Varicose veins
Where do varicose veins often occur?
Esophagus, stomach, rectum
if ruptured, cause massive bleeding and possibly death
Intrahepatic portal hypertension results from what?
diseases of the liver that affect portal zon like biliary cirrhosis, schistosomiasis, congenital hepatic fibrosis or toxic drugs
what may diffuse metastatic disease cause
portal hypertension
what are the clinical findings of portal venous hypertension
- Increased liver enzymes
- GI bleeding
- Jaundice
- Hematemesis
