Gastrointestinal varices echocardiography and ultrasound

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Syed Hassan A. Kazmi BSc, MD [2]

Overview

Echo-Doppler may be helpful in the diagnosis of portal hypertension. Findings on an echo-doppler suggestive of portal hypertension include lack of increase in portal vein diameter in response to meals, increased portal blood flow velocity, and decreased portal vein cross-sectional area. Color-Doppler ultrasound may be helpful in the diagnosis of portal hypertension. Findings on an color-doppler ultrasound suggestive of portal hypertension include increased diameter of left gastric vein, increased diameter of portal vein, and increased flow velocity in left gastric vein. Biphasic and reverse flow in portal vein along with re-canalization of umbilical vein are pathognomonic for portal hypertension.

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Echo-Doppler may be helpful in the diagnosis of portal hypertension. Findings on an echo-doppler suggestive of portal hypertension include:^[1]
- Lack of increase in portal vein diameter in response to meals
- Increased portal blood flow velocity
- Decreased portal vein cross-sectional area

Ultrasonography may be helpful in the diagnosis of portal hypertension. Findings on an abdominal ultrasonography suggestive of portal hypertension include:^[4]
- Splenomegaly
- Ascites
- Re-canalization of umbilical vein — pathognomonic of portal hypertension
- Porto-systemic collaterals

↑ Sabbà C, Ferraioli G, Buonamico P, Berardi E, Antonica G, Taylor KJ, Albano O (1992). “Echo-Doppler evaluation of acute flow changes in portal hypertensive patients: flow velocity as a reliable parameter”. J. Hepatol. 15 (3): 356–60. PMID 1447502.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Radiopaedia.org. From the case <“https://radiopaedia.org/cases/29199“>rID: 29199
↑ Yin XY, Lu MD, Huang JF, Xie XY, Liang LJ (2001). “Color Doppler velocity profile assessment of portal hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension: correlation with esophageal variceal bleeding”. J Clin Ultrasound. 29 (1): 7–13. PMID 11180179.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 “Portal hypertension | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org”.
↑ Li FH, Hao J, Xia JG, Li HL, Fang H (2005). “Hemodynamic analysis of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis using color Doppler ultrasound”. World J Gastroenterol. 11 (29): 4560–5. PMC 4398708. PMID 16052688.