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Chapter 6 - Portal Hypertension in Children

from Section I - Pathophysiology of Pediatric Liver Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2021

By
Benjamin L. Shneider
Edited by
Frederick J. Suchy ,
Ronald J. Sokol  and
William F. Balistreri
Edited in association with
Jorge A. Bezerra ,
Cara L. Mack  and
Benjamin L. Shneider
Frederick J. Suchy
Affiliation:
University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora
Ronald J. Sokol
Affiliation:
University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora
William F. Balistreri
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Jorge A. Bezerra
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Cara L. Mack
Affiliation:
University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora
Benjamin L. Shneider
Affiliation:
Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston
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Summary

A portal system is one, which by definition, begins and ends with capillaries. The major portal system in humans is one in which the capillaries originate in the mesentery of the intestines and spleen and end in the hepatic sinusoids. Capillaries of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins supply the portal vein with a nutrient- and hormone-rich blood supply. The partially oxygenated portal venous blood supplements the oxygenated hepatic arterial flow to give the liver unique protection against hypoxia. Blood flow from the hepatic artery and portal vein is well coordinated to maintain consistent flow and explains the ability of the liver to withstand thrombosis of either of these major vascular structures. This well-regulated blood flow in conjunction with the very low resistance found in the portal system results in a low baseline portal pressure in healthy individuals.

Type
Chapter
Information
Liver Disease in Children , pp. 74 - 93
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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