Studies were made on relationships between splenoportographic findings and clinical features such as G.I. Bleeding, splenomegaly or hepatic encephalopathy in 82 cases with portal hypertension.
An episode of G.I. Bleeding was often noted in cases, in which both the coronary gastric vein and short gastric vein were visualized by splenoportography. The episode of G.I. bleeding was seen in 46.4% of cases, in which the coronary gastric vein was more prominently visualized than the short gastric vein and in 72.7% of cases, in which the size of the coronary gastric vein was over 10mm in diameter.
A close relationship was observed between degree of splenomegaly and one of tortuosity of the splenic vein, however, no relation was noted between degree of splenomegaly and the episode of G.I. Bleeding.
In cases of hepatic encephalopathy, the intra- and extra hepatic portal veins were not visualized, however, splenorenal shunts were well observed and these shunts seem to be a cause of hepatic encephalopathy.
In cases of extra hepatic portal obstruction, complicated shunts were numerously noted with characteristic features.
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