Esophageal Rationale: The vomiting of blood from bleeding esophageal varices is the most common clinical manifestation of portal hypertension. A patient has portal hypertension-induced splenomegaly. Which lab value would the healthcare professional associate with this condition?
Rationale: The two basic causes of portal hypertension in children are (1) increased resistance to blood flow within the portal system and (2) increased volume of portal blood flow. Fibrosis of the liver is a major cause of resistance to blood flow in the portal system.
There are a number of ways to diagnose portal hypertension. For patients with end-stage liver disease who present with ascites and varices, the doctor may not need to perform any diagnostic tests and can confirm a diagnosis based on symptoms. Diagnostic procedures your doctor may order include:
Listening to the lungs, assessing for pedal edema, and looking for jaundice are not directly related to portal hypertension. Where in the brain is the vomiting center located? a. Pons b. Medulla oblongata b. Medulla oblongata
The clinical manifestations of portal hypertension may include caput medusae, splenomegaly, edema of the legs, and gynecomastia (less commonly) (Figure 2). Caput medusae is a network of dilated veins surrounding the umbilicus.
Gastrointestinal bleeding: You may notice blood in the stools, or you may vomit blood if any large vessels around your stomach that developed due to portal hypertension rupture. Ascites: When fluid accumulates in your abdomen, causing swelling.
What are the symptoms of portal hypertension?Enlarged liver and spleen.Enlarged veins (varices) of the esophagus and stomach. ... Internal hemorrhoids.Weight loss from malnutrition.Fluid buildup in the belly (ascites)Kidney malfunction.Low platelets.Fluid on the lungs.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is often the first sign of portal hypertension. Black, tarry stools can be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. You may also actually see blood in your stools.
Variceal hemorrhage is the most common complication associated with portal hypertension. Almost 90% of patients with cirrhosis develop varices, and approximately 30% of varices bleed.
With regard to the liver itself, causes of portal hypertension usually are classified as prehepatic, intrahepatic, and posthepatic.
The main symptoms and complications of portal hypertension include:Gastrointestinal bleeding marked by black, tarry stools or blood in the stools, or vomiting of blood due to the spontaneous rupture and hemorrhage from varices.Ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)More items...•
As cirrhosis is the most common cause of portal hypertension, patients may present with stigmata of cirrhosis. These include jaundice, gynecomastia, palmar erythema, spider nevi, testicular atrophy, ascites, pedal edema, or asterixis due to hepatic encephalopathy.
Clinically, patients with cirrhosis can be diagnosed with portal hypertension by the presence of ascites, varices, or both. Imaging studies such as Doppler ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging also can aid in diagnosing portal hypertension and in defining portal vein anatomical features.
Key points about portal hypertension Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, is one of the most common causes of this health problem. Some symptoms include an enlarged liver and spleen, varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach, and weight loss from malnutrition.
Caput medusae is one of the cardinal features of portal hypertension. The appearance is due to cutanous portosystemic collateral formation between distended and engorged paraumbilical veins that radiate from the umbilicus across the abdomen to join systemic veins.