APPLICABILITY OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(1) INDIRECT PORTAL-VEIN ANGIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH PORTAL-HYPERTENSION

The imaging quality of the portal vein was obviously improved with pro staglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) indirect portal vein digital subtraction angi ography (DSA) in 23 cases. The time-density curve showed that the occu rrence rate of opposite hepatic blood flow of splenic vein (SV) was th e highest (17.4%). The total visualization rate of the left gastric ve in (LGV) was 78.3%, and the visualization rate of the short gastric ve in (SGV) was 36.4%. 38.9% of the LGV and all the SGV were visualized w ith indirect portal vein DSA through SA. Indirect portal vein angiogra phy through superior mesenteric artery and that through splenic artery were of equal importance. In portal hypertension patients with hemorr hage of the digestive tract, when LGV and SGV could not be visualized in PGE(1) indirect portal vein DSA, the possibility of non-varices vei n bleeding should be considered. When opposite hepatic blood flow with obvious dilation appeared in LGV and SGV, devascularization of the pe ricardial blood vessels would be justifiable.