​Pathology - Portal Hypertension

​Pathology - Portal Hypertension
Prehepatic portal venous blockage is caused by either portal vein thrombosis or splenic intrahepatic portal venous obstruction. Resulting from cirrhosis, metastatic tumor, or schistosomiasis

Posthepatic portal venous blockage can be caused by constrictive pericarditis, tricuspid insufficiency, congestive heart failure, or Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Portal venous blockage causes an increased utilization of venous collaterals in the portal systemic anastomoses, resulting in varices in the submucosal veins of the esophagus, rectal veins, and paraumbilical-inferior epigastric veins. Moreover. Elevated portal vein pressure causes reduced capillary fluid reabsorption, resulting in the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity known as ascites.

Clinical Symptoms 
Enlarged spleen; swollen veins in the esophagus; swollen veins in the rectum; swollen veins around the belly button; vomiting blood; little dilated blood vessels on the skin. Hypotension and pallor are symptoms of ascites.

Therapy 
Splenectomy cures portal hypertension resulting from splenic vein thrombosis.
Treatment options for variceal hemorrhage include band ligation or sclerotherapy. Anticoagulation for portal vein thrombosis Cirrhosis treatment notes