The aim of our study was to analyze the flow speed in the portal vein at patients with cirrhosis and compare our results with the existence of esophageal varices. The study comprised 37 patients with liver cirrhosis. The patients had different degrees of esophageal varices, assessed with endoscopy and had no ascites. Our examinations included an abdominal US with spectral and Color Doppler, for flow evaluation, maximal velocity and portal vein dimension. All the 37 patients presented low velocity, with flow speed in the portal vein between 6,1-12,5 cm/sec and elevated dimension of the portal vein. The mean speed was 9,28 cm/sec. 20 patients presented under-mean velocity and third or higher degree of esophageal varices. From the 17 patients with upper-mean velocity just two patients had third degree esophageal varices; the rest of 15 had second degree esophageal varices or lower. The dimentions of the portal vein were elevated, but there was no correlation between the dimension and the flow speed in the portal vein. In patients with liver cirrhosis the reduction of the flow speed in the portal vein is correlated with the degree of esophageal varices. Duplex- and color-DopplerUS can be a complementary method of endoscopy in the follow-up of portal hypertension and esophageal varices.
Keywords: liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, Doppler ultrasound.