Characterization of portal vein and other abdominal organs in portal hypertension patients using ultrasound

Abstract

Portal hypertension occurs when the venous pressure increases in the portal vein due to some pathological changes such as liver cirrhosis, which results in an increased diameter of the portal and splenic vein. Objective: To assess and characterize the portal vein and other abdominal organs in portal hypertension patients using ultrasound to minimize the incidence of serious and life-threatening consequences of portal hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample size of 108 patients was carried out in five months, in a private hospital in Gujranwala. The subjects of age > 30 years were included with other considered variables such as gender, portal and splenic vein diameter, size, and characteristics pattern of the liver & spleen size with other abdominal complications. After taking informed written consent, patients were examined in a supine position using Mindray DC-3 Ultrasound Machine with a convex probe of 3.5 MHz’s frequency. After collecting data, it was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The study revealed that 73.1% of patients were predominantly male with a male-to-female ratio and the patients in age between 50 – 59 years were more afflicted with this condition. 51.9% of patients were diagnosed with moderate dilatation of the portal vein and severe splenic vein dilatation was seen in 36.1% of the patients. The liver size was reduced in 75% of patients. 35.2% of patients were diagnosed with grossly enlarged spleen while the other 65% of patients were with mild and moderate splenomegaly. In 87% of patients, normal liver echotexture was changed into a heterogenous texture. Only 12% of patients were diagnosed with ascites and 27.8% with increased GB walls thickness. Conclusions: There was a notable link of portal hypertension with gender and age, as males of age between 50 – 59 years were commonly affected with this condition. Increased diameter of the portal and splenic vein, reduced liver size, splenomegaly, heterogeneous liver echotexture, ascites, and increased GB wall thickness were the common ultrasound findings in patients with portal hypertension.