POSTPRANDIAL REVERSAL OF THE PORTAL VENOUS FLOW IN A PATIENT WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

The case of a 61-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and a hep atocellular carcinoma is presented. He was examined with duplex Dopple r before and after a meal. In the fasting state a sluggish hepatopetal portal venous flow was found. After the meal a pendulating flow and t hen hepatofugal flow were found. The magnitude and direction of flow a lternated synchronously with the action of the heart, suggesting a sig nificant role for the hepatic artery in the postprandial reversal of p ortal venous flow. One year after this examination the patient died fr om the complications of decompensated cirrhosis and liver failure. At autopsy a large hepatocellular carcinoma was detected.