Triplex sonographic evaluation of portal vein indices among adults in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Chronic liver disease is characterized by progressive hepatic fibrosis and changes in hepatic vascular hemodynamics. Sonography is a readily available tool in the assessment of the hepatic hemodynamic alterations that occur in chronic liver diseases. Aim: This study was aimed at sonographically determining the portal vein indices in apparently healthy adults by estimating the portal vein diameter, cross-sectional area, and portal vein velocity. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study carried out among 62 apparently healthy individuals. The participants underwent gray scale and Doppler ultrasonographic examinations of the portal vein. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM Corp. version 23.0 (Armonk, NY: USA). The comparison of means of two groups was with the unpaired t-test, and level of significance was set at 5% (P 0.05). There was no significant correlation between age and ultrasound parameters P > 0.05. Conclusion: The normal values of portal vein diameter, cross-sectional area, and portal vein velocity were established.

Keywords

• doppler
• portal vein cross-sectional area
• portal vein diameter
• portal vein flow velocity
• ultrasound