Portal vein thrombosis was first discovered by Balfour and Stewart in 1868. In 1868, G201210A mutations were first implicated in the pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis. In 1945, Allan Whipple, an american surgeon, first described the treatment of the portal hypertension with shunts. He eventually tried shunts between different mesenteric veins. Finally, he found portocaval shunt as the best choice. In 1980’s, researchers have observed that endoscopic sclerotherapy is more efficient than surgical shunting in preventing recurrent variceal bleeding.

• In 1868, Balfour and Stewart described portal vein thrombosis for the first time.^[1]
• In 1868, G201210A mutations were first implicated in the pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis.^[1]
• In 1319, Mondino de Liuzzi (Mundinus), an Italian surgeon, published the textbook named “Anhotomia” and described the anatomy of liver vascular system for the first time. The book was the most reliable textbook of anatomy for about 200 years and been partially modified by Avicenna (1000 years ago).
• In 1543, Andreas van Wesel (Andrea Vesalio in Latin), Flemish anatomist, described portal system accurately for the first time in his textbook called “De humani corporis fabrica”.^[2]
• In 1650, Francis Glisson, a British physician, demonstrated the portal circulation for the first time, using goat as a study model.^[3]
• In 1761, Giovani Battista Morgagni, an Italian anatomist, described the characteristics of cirrhotic liver in his precious textbook named “De sedibus and causis morborum per anatomen indagatis“.^[4]
• In 1819, Renè Laennec, a French physician, coined the term cirrhosis in his textbook, from antique Greek words of “Skirros” (hard, fibrotic) and “Kirrhos” (yellowish). He also mentioned his new invention “stethoscope” in the textbook.^[2]

• In 1877, Nicholas Eck, a German physician, did the first portocaval shunt to treat the liver congestion in dogs.^[5]
• In 1945, Allan Whipple, an american surgeon,first described the treatment of the portal hypertension with shunts. He eventually tried shunts between different mesenteric veins. Finally, he found portocaval shunt as the best choice.

• In 1985, David Westaby, a British gastroenterologist, postulated that variceal sclerosing therapy is an better option than pharmacotherapy in the treatment of portal hypertension.^[6]
• In 1980s, researchers have observed that endoscopic sclerotherapy is more efficient than surgical shunting in preventing recurrent variceal bleeding.^[7]

• In 1967, Thomas Earl Starzl, an american physician, mentioned that liver transplantation is an effective way to treat both portal vein thrombosis and the underlying hepatic disease.^[8]