Portal hypertension - Basics

Portal Hypertension - Hypertension (high blood pressure) in the PORTAL VEIN and its TRIBUTARIES

Portal vein (splenic-mesenteric confluence) made up of tributaries

• Splenic vein
• Inferior mesenteric vein drains into this
• Superior mesenteric vein

Portacaval (portosystemic) anastomosis

• Portal circulation + Systemic circulation

Regions

• Oesophageal
• Oesophageal varices
• Portal
• Oesophageal branch of left gastric vein
• Systemic
• Oesophageal branches of the Azygos vein
• Rectal
• Rectal varices
• Portal
• Superior rectal vein
• Systemic
• Middle rectal veins and inferior rectal veins
• Paraumbilical
• Caput medusae
• Portal
• Paraumbilical veins
• Systemic
• Superficial epigastric vein
• Retroperitoneal
• Portal
• Right, middle, left colic veins
• Systemic
• Renal, suprarenal, paravertebral and gonadal veins
• Intrahepatic
• Patent ductus venosus
• Portal
• Left branch of portal vein
• Systemic
• Inferior vena cava