Sonographic Comparison of Portal Vein Diameter in Cirrhotic and Non-Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis has become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. The burden of liver cirrhosis is growing in both the West and the East. In Pakistan death rate of liver cirrhosis is conspicuous because of chronic hepatitis (hepatitis B, C) and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is reported by World Health Organization that Pakistan occupies secondary place in spread of hepatitis C.

Objective: To compare the portal vein diameter in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients through ultrasound.

Methodology: Ultrasound machine Toshiba Xario, Mindray dp 10 and G logic p5 with a curvilinear transducer of frequency 3.5 MHz was used. The study was conducted at, Hussain Diagnostic Ultrasound Centre Jampur, District Rajanpur. Data of 100 patients was collected through Cross-Sectional Analytical study. Statistical software for social sciences (SPSS version 22.0) is used for the analysis of data.

Results: One hundred patients participated in this study. Among them, the minimum age was 30 and the maximum age was 70. Ratio of male patients was more than female patients, due to fact of more alcohol consumption in males. Out of 100 patients, 50 patients had cirrhosis and 50 were non cirrhotic. Liver cirrhosis patients came the severe symptoms like weakness, lethargy, hematemesis and melena. Non cirrhotic patients came with epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. Mean of Portal vein diameter in non-cirrhotic patients was 10.5mm. Mean of  Portal vein diameter in live cirrhosis patients was 14.8mm. A statistical significance difference was found between the two means of portal vein diameter of two groups (cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic) as the p-value 0.000 less than 0.05.

Conclusion: Liver cirrhosis is one of the major issues of health and a big reason for increasing mortality rate all over the world. The most common etiology of liver cirrhosis .is .alcohol. Patients come with liver cirrhosis having severe symptoms like weakness, lethargy, hematemesis and melena. Non-cirrhotic patients come with mild symptoms like epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting, having normal portal vein diameter. Mean portal vein diameter in cirrhotic patients (14.8mm) was greater than non-cirrhotic patients (10.5mm).

Key words: Liver cirrhosis, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/76-12

Publication date:June 30th 2020