Portal hypertension

In medicine, portal hypertension is hypertension (high blood pressure) in the portal vein and its branches. It is usually the result of cirrhosis of the liver.

Consequences of portal hypertension are caused by blood being forced down alternate channels by the increased resistance to flow through the portal system. They include:

• Ascites (free fluid in the peritoneal cavity)
• Esophageal varices (dilated veins in the wall of the esophagus that are prone to bleed)
• Hemorrhoids
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Increased risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
• Increased risk of hepatorenal syndrome