Role of Ultrasound Doppler in Evaluation of Portal Hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasound Doppler is an accurate non-invasive investigation of assessing the aetiology, severity and complications of portal hypertension. The various spectrum of findings, flow metric changes and portosystemic collaterals can be accurately studied using ultrasound Doppler. Aim: To study the spectrum of ultrasound Doppler findings in portal hypertension, its various aetiology, complications and the flow metric changes in portal hypertension. Materials and Methods: A total of 63 patients referred to the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute with clinically suspected / diagnosed portal hypertension, in a period from January 2013 to January 2014 were subjected for the study. The patients were studied using color Doppler coupled ultrasound machine. Collected data was analysed for descriptive statistics using the software SPSS. Results: The mean age of patients was 49.3 years. There were 48 males and 15 females in this study. The most common etiology for portal hypertension was cirrhosis (76.2%). Splenomegaly was noted in 79.4% cases and ascites in 87.3%. Portal vein was dilated in 67.2% cases. Hepatopetal flow was noted in majority (77.8%) of the cases. Loss of respiratory phasicity of portal vein was noted in 87.9% cases. Decreased portal vein velocity was noted in 38.1% cases. Collaterals were noted in 63% of the cases, most common being the splenorenal collaterals which were seen in 49.2% of cases. Conclusion: Ultrasound Doppler is an accurate noninvasive investigation of assessing the aetiology, severity and complications of portal hypertension. The various spectrum of findings, flow metric changes and portosystemic collaterals can be accurately studied using ultrasound Doppler.

Keywords

• cirrhosis of liver
• portal vein flowmetry
• portal vein hypertension
• real time ultrasonography