PORTAL HEMODYNAMICS BY DUPLEX-DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN DIFFERENT GRADES OF CIRRHOSIS

Not much is known about the relationship between portal hemodynamics a nd the grades of cirrhosis. Using pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, we s tudied portal vein diameter, portal flow velocity, and portal blood fl ow rate in 37 patients with liver cirrhosis (11 Child's A, 13 Child's B, and 13 Child's C) and 10 healthy controls, There was no difference in the maximum inner diameter of the portal vein in cirrhotics and con trols, However, there was a significant decrease in the portal flow ve locity in patients with Child's C cirrhosis, as compared to controls a nd patients with Child's A and Child's B cirrhosis, The portal blood f low rate in Child's B and Child's C cirrhosis was also significantly l ess as compared to controls and patients with Child's A cirrhosis. Pat ients with ascites and encephalopathy had significantly lower portal f low velocities and blood flow rate as compared to those without ascite s and encephalopathy, respectively. This study indicates that portal f low significantly decreased in cirrhotic patients with worsening Child 's grade of cirrhosis.