Splenoportography in the pediatric age group.
Eleven splenoportograms were performed in 10 patients between the ages of 2.5 and 17 yr. A definitive diagnosis was made in every instance. There were no complications despite the fact that 6 patients had platelet counts less than 100,000/mm3. Fear of potential complications is unwarranted, and splenoportography should be an essential part of the workup of a child suspected of having portal hypertension. Splenoportography, when combined with measurement of splenic pulp pressure, provides precise information regarding the presence of and/or change in portal hypertension and its underlying cause. With this information, therapy for the pediatric patient with portal hypertension can be individualized and managed in a logical fashion.
D000293:Adolescent; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011172:Portography; D013156:Splenectomy; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000150:complications; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging