Intrasplenic venous flow patterns demonstrated by Doppler ultrasound in patients with portal hypertension.
The flow pattern in the splenic vein has been previously reported in patients with portal hypertension, but with no reference to the flow within the intrasplenic venous radicles. Using Doppler ultrasound, this study describes the intrasplenic venous flow direction in 176 adult patients with intrahepatic portal hypertension. In our series, a normal flow pattern was maintained in all except four patients (2.3%) who had either reversed or dual venous drainage patterns resulting in trans-splenic portosystemic shunts. These abnormal patterns are Doppler signs of portal hypertension which might be associated with a higher risk of oesophageal variceal bleeding. It is recommended that the intrasplenic venous flow pattern should be assessed before surgical intervention involving the spleen in patients with portal hypertension.
Barakat
M
M
Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
Hassan
A
A
Soliman
A
A
Nafeh
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply*; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler