The effects of exercise on portal venous system in splenectomized adults

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effects of exercise on the portal venous system in splenectomized adults. Splenectomy is a surgical intervention commonly performed at surgery clinics and recognized as a cause of portal vein thrombosis. Intensive exercise increases blood flow to the contracting muscles, causes hypercoagulability and vasoconstriction in the splanchnic area, hence the portal vein diameter, blood flow velocity and discharge decrease. Forty adults participated in this investigation. Subjects were trained to run for twenty minutes on a treadmill at a velocity of 6 km/h and ten-degree elevation. We compared the white blood cell count, portal vein diameter, portal venous blood flow velocity and discharge of splenectomized and healthy adults before and after exercise. After exercise, the blood leukocyte count was significantly increased and the portal vein diameter was significantly reduced in both groups (p<0.001) but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The portal venous blood flow rate in splenectomy group were significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.001). Furthermore the portal venous blood flow rates in both groups were significantly reduced after exercise (p<0.001). Exercise in splenectomized individuals can cause serious problems in form of decreasing splanchnic flow and increasing blood viscosity. After splenectomy, both healthy individuals and patients with hematologic diseases ought to avoid intensive exercises (Tab. 2, Ref. 16).