Ultrasound Determination of Portal Vein Diameter in Adult Patients with Chronic Liver Disease in North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Despite the safety, affordability and widespread use of ultrasound; there is a paucity of literature on ultrasonographic assessment of the portal vein (PV) diameter in adult patients in our local environment. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the mean and range of PV diameter in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients in our local environment. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional prospective study was carried out at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between January and June, 2013. Two hundred and fifty adult male and female CLD patients and equal number of age and sex matched controls aged 18 years and above had abdominal ultrasonography for measurement of their main, right and left PV diameter in both inspiration and expiration. Transverse and longitudinal measurements were obtained, and the averages of the two measurements were used to determine their final diameter. Results: There were 187 (74.8%) male and 63 (25.2%) female CLD patients aged between 19 and 77 years (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 43.78 ± 12.97 years). The mean diameter of the main PV (±SD) in CLD was 18.68 ± 2.59 mm which is higher than that of the control (10.87 ± 0.81 mm). The mean diameter of the right and left PVs in CLD were 9.04 ± 1.26 mm and 8.58 ± 1.23 mm respectively, which were higher than the respective values of 4.35 ± 0.52 mm and 4.12 ± 0.52 mm in the control. The PV diameter correlated with age and respiratory phases in both CLD and the control group (P < 0.05). There was statistically significant difference in PV diameter between males and females (P < 0.05) with values higher in females. Conclusion: The mean value and range of PV diameter in CLD patients in this environment were statistically and significantly higher than controls. The diameter correlated with age and showed significant difference between the two sexes and respiratory phases.