Role of Portal Vein Color Doppler and Splenic Size to Evaluate Portal Hypertension and its correlation with Esophageal Varices

Opening of the article

Background: Cirrhosis is the end-stage of all chronic hepatic diseases leading to portal hypertension and its various manifestations. Besides, increase in resistance to portal venous flow, splenomegaly and ascites, portal hypertension is commonly associated with portosystemic collateral formation especially esophageal varices. Gastrointestinal bleeding from the esophagus is the commonest and most dreaded complication that develops over a period and requires endoscopy which is an expensive, invasive procedure. Color Doppler parameters of portal vein and splenic size can be used non-invasively to monitor the cirrhotic patients for development of portal hypertension and esophageal varices.