Splenoportography in portal hypertension

Lee, S W; Kim, H S; Park, C I

Abstract

Splenoportography has been proved a useful method for the evaluation of circulatory disturbances in portalhypertension. Author analyzed the various aspect of these disturbances as judged by changes in collateralcirculations and width of the portal vein and splenic veinin 30 cases that were studies under the clinicalsuspection of portal hypertension during 6 years, from 1971 to 1977, at Department of Radiology, N.M.C. Theresults are as follows; 1. Intrahepatic obstruction is a common cause of portal hypertension, and cirrhosis is themost frequent cause that was found in 80% of case. 2. Chief complaint was hematemesis and melana, respectively 73%and 60% in incidence. 3. The portal pressure was more than 260mm H20 levels and the ranges were wide as 400-600mmH2O levels. 4. No definite correlation is present between the degree of portal pressure and the diameter ofsplenic and portal veins but veins were mainly dilatated. At the half of cases, the diameter of splenic vein wasranged from 9 to 16mm and portal vein was ranged from 17 to 24mm. 5. The filling of collateral circulations was tobe definite, though not regular, sign of increased portal pressure. In liver cirrhosis, the 97% of collateralcirculations were formed via coronary vein, and then short gastric vein and inferior mesenteric vein as a order.At the extrahepatic obstruction of portal hypertension, bridging collaterals were also accompanied.