Abstract

Background: The leading causes of chronic liver disease, which is still on the rise, include chronic alcohol use, obesity, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B. In cases of cirrhosis, portal hypertension and its effects are a significant source of morbidity and mortality.Ultrasound methods like duplex ultrasonography or spectral imaging the preferred modalities include Doppler imaging, color Doppler imaging, and power Doppler imaging. The present study aimed to identify findings in patients with portal hypertension.
Methods: All cases with clinical suspicion of portal hypertension and all the cases with altered biochemical parameters suggestive of cirrhosis with portal hypertension were included in the study. All patients had abdominal ultrasonography using a curvilinear 2–5Mhz probe in conjunction with color Doppler technology. While the USG is being done, the patient will be advised to lie comfortably supine. Doppler Hepatic vein waveforms will be captured in suspended expiration for at least five seconds (end-expiratory). In longitudinal scanning planes, the maximum and minimum velocities of descending hepatic vein flow will be determined, and the damping index will be computed.
Results:  out of n=35 cases included in the study, n=30 cases had a portal vein diameter of < 20mm and >20mm in n=2 cases. Similarly, portal lumen size was normal in n=28 cases and flow status in the maximum number of cases was hepatopetal and No flow was detected in n=8 cases. The damping index of the hepatic vein in a majority of patients (85.71%) presented with <0.6 and (14.28%) had >0.6 damping index hepatic vein.
Conclusion: Portal hypertension and its complications account for significant morbidity and mortality. Ultrasonography with added color Doppler helps in evaluating portal hypertension and differentiation of sinusoidal, pre or post-sinusoidal causes of portal hypertension. The Colour Doppler also offers accurate information in locating and defining the portal vein in patients with portal hypertension and aids in determining the presence of various portosystemic collaterals.