Digestive Diseases: Portal Hypertension

• Introduction to Portal Hypertension
• What causes portal hypertension?
• What are the symptoms of portal hypertension?
• How is portal hypertension diagnosed?
• How is portal hypertension treated?
  • Endoscopic therapy
  • Medications
  • What lifestyle changes should be made?
  • Other treatment options
• What tests are required before the TIPS and DSRS procedures?
• What happens in the TIPS procedure?
  • How successful is the TIPS procedure?
  • What complications are associated with TIPS?
• What happens in the DSRS procedure?
  • How successful is the DSRS surgery?
  • What complications are associated with DSRS surgery?
• Follow-up care following TIPS or DSRS procedures
• Other treatment procedures

Introduction to Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension is an increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system. Normally, the veins come from the stomach, intestine, spleen and pancreas, merge into the portal vein, which then branches into smaller vessels and travels through the liver. If the vessels in the liver are blocked, it is hard for the blood to flow causing high pressure in the portal system.

When the pressure becomes too high, the blood backs up and finds other ways to flow back to the heart, where it is pumped to the lungs, where it gets rid of waste products and picks up oxygen. The blood can travel to the veins in the esophagus (esophageal varices), in the skin of the abdomen, and the veins of the rectum and anus (hemorrhoids) to get around the blockages in the liver.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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