COLONOSCOPY FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH POR TAL-HYPERTENSION - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 31 CASES

To determine the prevalence and spectrum of rectal and colonic lesions in patients with portal hypertension, videocolonoscopy was performed in 29 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and in two with a portal ca vernoma. Colorectal lesions were identified in 22 patients (71 %). Col orectal varices were seen in ten patients (32.5 %), and were more comm on in patients with a history of bleeding (P < 0.05) and in those with Child-Pugh stage II or III disease (P < 0.001). Portal colopathy was found in 18 patients (58 %). Factors associated with portal colopathy were male gender (P < 0.02), grade II or III esophageal varices (P = 0 .02), a history of bleeding (P < 0.001), and presence of rectal varice s (P < 0.02). Colonoscopy should he performed in patients with severe portal hypertension, especially those with anemia due to bleeding, pas sage of blood per rectum, and/or a positive Hemoccult test.