This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Porto-systemic shunts

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Porto-systemic shunts occur where there is obstruction to the portal outflow of blood in portal hypertension. This results in an increased blood flow at the sites of anastomosis between the portal and systemic systems, at:

  • the gastro-oesophageal junction, where there is flow between the left gastric and short gastric veins of the portal system and the intercostal, diaphragmatic and azygous veins of the systemic circulation, with the development of oesophageal varices

  • the anus, where there is flow between the superior haemorrhoidal veins of the portal system and the middle and inferior haemorrhoidal veins of the systemic circulation

  • the porta hepatis and the umbilicus

  • in the retroperitoneal space around the kidneys, spleen, ascending and descending colons and duodenum

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.