Overview
What is the most common cause of portal hypertension?
What are the signs and symptoms of liver disease in portal hypertension?
What are the possible complications of portal hypertension?
What are the signs of portosystemic collateral formation due to portal hypertension?
What are the signs of hyperdynamic circulatory state in portal hypertension?
What are the signs and symptoms of portal hypertension and esophageal varices?
Which lab tests are performed in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
Which lab tests may be performed in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
Which imaging studies are performed in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
Which procedures are performed in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
What is the focus of treatment for portal hypertension?
What are emergent treatment options for portal hypertension?
What are the primary prophylaxis options for portal hypertension?
What are secondary prophylaxis options for portal hypertension?
What is the role of surgery in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the most common cause of portal hypertension?
What are important factors in the development of portal hypertension?
At what level is portal pressure hypertensive?
What is the role of the portal vein in the etiology of portal hypertension?
How does portal hypertension cause portosystemic collaterals to develop?
What anatomy is relevant to portal hypertension?
What is the initial factor in the etiology of portal hypertension?
What is the role of blood vessel radius in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension?
What role does liver disease play in the etiology of portal hypertension?
What is the role of hepatic vascular resistance in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension?
What role does endothelin-1 (ET-1) play in the etiology of portal hypertension?
What role does nitric oxide (NO) play in the etiology of portal hypertension?
How are causes of portal hypertension classified?
What are prehepatic causes of portal hypertension?
What are intrahepatic, predominantly presinusoidal causes of portal hypertension?
What are intrahepatic, predominantly sinusoidal causes of portal hypertension?
What is the role of Vitamin A in the etiology of portal hypertension?
What are the postsinusoidal causes of portal hypertension?
What are the posthepatic causes of portal hypertension?
What is the role of increased portal blood flow in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension?
What are manifestations of splanchnic vasodilation in portal hypertension?
How does the formation of varices contribute to the pathogenesis of portal hypertension?
How does increased portal pressure contribute to the pathogenesis of portal hypertension?
What are risk factors for variceal hemorrhage in portal hypertension?
How does bacterial infection trigger variceal bleeding in portal hypertension?
What is the prevalence of portal hypertension in the US?
What is the global incidence of portal hypertension?
What is the prevalence of esophageal varices in US?
How does the cause of portal hypertension vary geographically?
How does the prevalence of portal hypertension vary by sex?
How does the cause of portal hypertension vary by age?
How does severe and persistent upper GI hemorrhage affect the prognosis of portal hypertension?
What is the most common complication of portal hypertension?
Which complications are associated with portal hypertension and GI bleeding?
What are causes of complications of portal hypertension?
What is the prognosis of portal hypertension in patients with esophageal varices?
Which factors are known to influence the prognosis of esophageal bleeding in portal hypertension?
What should be included in patient education about portal hypertension?
What information should patients with portal hypertension be given regarding alcohol use?
What information should patients with portal hypertension be given regarding beta-blockers?
What information should patients with portal hypertension be given regarding ascites?
Presentation
What should be the focus of medical history in patients with portal hypertension?
Which historical information helps determine the cause of portal hypertension?
What are the most common causes of GI bleeding in portal hypertension?
Which history findings are characteristic of upper GI bleeding in patients with portal hypertension?
What are the symptoms of liver disease in portal hypertension?
Which patient history I characteristic of complications of portal hypertension?
How should blood pressure and pulse be checked in patients with portal hypertension?
Which physical findings suggest portosystemic collateral formation in portal hypertension?
Which physical findings suggest liver disease in portal hypertension?
Which physical findings suggest hyperdynamic circulatory state in cases of portal hypertension?
What are signs of portal hypertension with esophageal varices?
DDX
Which conditions should be considered in the differential diagnoses of portal hypertension?
What is the differential diagnoses of variceal hemorrhage in portal hypertension?
What are the differential diagnoses for Portal Hypertension?
Workup
Which physical findings from a rectal exam suggest portal hypertension with upper GI bleeding?
What is the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of angiography in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
Which histologic findings on liver biopsy suggest portal hypertension?
What is the role of lab studies in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of complete blood count (CBC) in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of liver function tests in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
Why are cross-match tests performed in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
What is the role of coagulation tests in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
What does a high anion gap suggest in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
Why are viral hepatitis serologies obtained in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
Which lab tests are used to diagnose portal hypertension?
Which features on duplex Doppler ultrasonography suggest hepatic cirrhosis with portal hypertension?
What are the limitations of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of CT scanning in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
Which CT findings suggest portal hypertension?
What are the limitations of CT scanning in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of MRI in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of liver-spleen scanning in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What are the limitations of liver-spleen scans for the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of direct portal measurements in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of a balloon catheter in the evaluation of portal hypertension?
What are the indications for a portal hypertension screening endoscopy?
What are risk factors for rebleeding in portal hypertension?
What is the role of upper endoscopy in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
What is the role of upper endoscopy in portal hypertension due to cirrhosis?
Which indirect indices are used to help diagnose portal hypertension?
When should surveillance endoscopy be performed in portal hypertensive due to cirrhosis?
What is the role of transient elastography in the diagnosis of portal hypertension?
Treatment
What is the focus of treatment for portal hypertension?
What is included in pharmacologic therapy for portal hypertension?
What are the endoscopic and surgical options for portal hypertension?
How is portal hypertension managed in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites?
When is a nasogastric tub indicated in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is included in emergency department (ED) treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of surgery in the treatment of portal hypertension?
When is surgery considered in the treatment of portal hypertension?
Which surgical interventions are used in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of decompressive shunts in the treatment of portal hypertension?
How are total portosystemic shunts used in the treatment of portal hypertension?
How are partial portal systemic shunts used in the treatment of portal hypertension?
How are selective shunts used in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of devascularization in the treatment of portal hypertension?
Which devascularization procedures are used in the treatment of portal hypertension?
When is devascularization indicated in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of splenectomy in the treatment of portal hypertension?
How is gastroesophageal devascularization performed in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What are the benefits of liver transplantation for the treatment of portal hypertension?
In which patient groups is liver transplantation indicated for the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of secondary prophylaxis in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of nonselective beta-blockers in the treatment of portal hypertension?
How frequently is endoscopic sclerotherapy performed in the treatment of portal hypertension?
Which specialist consultations are needed for the treatment of portal hypertension?
How is variceal hemorrhage prevented in patients with portal hypertension?
How frequently should surveillance endoscopy be performed in portal hypertension due to cirrhosis?
What does a high portal blood flow velocity indicate in patients with portal hypertension?
What is included in the emergent treatment of portal hypertension?
What is included in the emergent treatment of variceal bleeding in portal hypertension?
How are infections prevented during the emergent treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of somatostatin in the emergent treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of octreotide in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of vasopressin in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of terlipressin in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of vasoactive drugs in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of endoscopic therapy in the treatment of portal hypertension?
How quickly is bleeding in portal hypertension controlled using sclerotherapy?
Which agents are used as sclerosants in endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for portal hypertension?
What are the complications of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for portal hypertension?
What is the role of balloon-tube tamponade in the emergent treatment of portal hypertension?
What are the possible of balloon-tube tamponade for portal hypertension?
What is the role of surveillance in the management of portal hypertension?
What are characteristics of portal hypertension at a high risk of bleeding?
When are nonselective beta-blockers indicated in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is included in the surveillance of portal hypertension?
What is the role of beta blockers in the management of portal hypertension?
What is the efficacy of beta-blockers for the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of propranolol in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What are the contraindications for propranolol in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the duration of beta-blocker therapy in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of vasodilators in the primary prevention of portal hypertension?
What is the role of combination therapy in the primary prevention of portal hypertension?
What is the role of sclerotherapy in the primary prevention of portal hypertension?
Medications
What are the goals of drug treatment for portal hypertension?
What are the benefits of vasoactive agents in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of vasoconstrictors in the treatment of portal hypertension?
What is the role of beta-blockers in the treatment of portal hypertension?
Which medications in the drug class Vasodilators are used in the treatment of Portal Hypertension?
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Large esophageal varices with red wale signs seen on endoscopy. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Uphill esophageal varices. Barium swallow demonstrates multiple serpiginous filling defects primarily involving the lower one third of the esophagus with striking prominence around the gastroesophageal junction. The patient had cirrhosis secondary to alcohol abuse.
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Barium swallow demonstrating esophageal varices involving the entire length of the esophagus. This appearance may be seen in advanced uphill varices or downhill varices secondary to superior vena cava obstruction at or below the level of the azygous vein.
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Computed tomography scan showing esophageal varices. Note the extensive collateralization within the abdomen adjacent to the spleen as a result of severe portal hypertension.
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Normal venous flow through the portal and systemic circulation. IMC = inferior mesenteric vein; IVC = inferior vena cava; SVC = superior vena cava.
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Redirection of flow through the left gastric vein secondary to portal hypertension or portal venous occlusion. Uphill varices develop in the distal one third of the esophagus. IMC = inferior mesenteric vein; IVC = inferior vena cava; SVC = superior vena cava.
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Portal vein and associated anatomy.
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Power Doppler sonogram through the spleen shows varices at the hilum of an enlarged spleen. The final diagnosis was hepatitis C cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma of the left hepatic lobe (which had ruptured into the peritoneum), and portoarterial fistula (which had developed inside the ruptured tumor, giving rise to severe portal hypertension).
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Duplex spectral Doppler sonogram of the portal vein (same patient as in the previous image) shows a bidirectional flow within the vein. The final diagnosis was hepatitis C cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma of the left hepatic lobe (which had ruptured into the peritoneum), and portoarterial fistula (which had developed inside the ruptured tumor, giving rise to severe portal hypertension).
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Digital subtraction selective common hepatic artery angiogram shows immediate filling of the portal venous radicles in the left lobe of the liver (straight arrow) and early filling of portal vein (curved arrow), suggestive of hepatic arterial-portal vein fistula. The final diagnosis was hepatitis C cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma of the left hepatic lobe (which had ruptured into the peritoneum), and portoarterial fistula (which had developed inside the ruptured tumor, giving rise to severe portal hypertension).
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Delayed venous phase of a selective common hepatic angiogram (same patient as in the previous image) shows the portal vein (P), with filling of the left gastric vein caused by retrograde flow feeding gastric and lower esophageal varices (arrows). Retrograde flow in enlarged umbilical veins also is seen. The final diagnosis was hepatitis C cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma of the left hepatic lobe (which had ruptured into the peritoneum), and portoarterial fistula (which had developed inside the ruptured tumor, giving rise to severe portal hypertension).
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Digital subtraction venous phase of a superior mesenteric artery angiogram (same patient as in the previous 2 images) shows retrograde flow into the left gastric vein (curved arrow) and the inferior mesenteric vein (straight arrow). Note the flow defect of the distal portal vein caused by retrograde flow (open arrowhead). The final diagnosis was hepatitis C cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma of the left hepatic lobe (which had ruptured into the peritoneum), and portoarterial fistula (which had developed inside the ruptured tumor, giving rise to severe portal hypertension).
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This video, captured via esophagoscopy, shows band ligation of esophageal varices. Video courtesy of Dan C Cohen, MD, and Dawn Sears, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Scott & White Healthcare.