Ultrasound Evaluation of Portal Vein Diameter and Its Doppler Hemodynamics in Apparently Healthy Adults In a Tertiary Healthy Adults In Northern Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Portal vein enlargement was initially considered the main sign of portal hypertension. However, the portal vein caliber does not increase angiographically and may decrease with increasing porto-hepatic venous pressure. Hepatofugal flow and/or portosystemic shunt developments also decrease the portal vein caliber, thus making the portal vein size alone a nonreliable indicator of portal hypertension.Objective: To determine the portal vein diameter (PVD), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and pulsatility index (PI) and their relationships in apparently healthy adults based on age, gender, and anthropometric variables. Conclusion:This study has established reference values for standard portal VD, PSV, and PI in a Northern Nigerian population with their corresponding relationships based on age, gender, and anthropometric variables.