Prediction of portal pressure from intraoperative ultrasonography

Abstract

Background: Portal hypertension is a major risk factor for hepatic failure or bleeding in patients who have undergone hepatectomy, but it cannot be measured indirectly. We attempted to evaluate the intra-operative ultrasonography parameters that correlate with portal pressure (PP) in patients undergoing hepatectomy. Methods:We examined 30 patients in whom portal pressure was directly measured during surgery. The background liver conditions included chronic viral liver disease in seven patients, chemotherapy associated steatohepatitis in four patients, fatty liver in one patient, hepatolithiasis in one patient, obstructive jaundice in one patient and a normal liver in 16 patients. A multivariate logistic analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted to develop a predictive formula for PP. Conclusion:This formula, which uses ultrasonographic Doppler flow parameters, appears to be useful for predicting portal pressure.