Diagnostic value of measuring portal hemodynamics by color Doppler ultrasonography in senile patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasound for portal hypertension in senile liver cirrhosis patients.Methods: From January 2009 to December 2012,the length and thickness of the spleens of 31 senior liver cirrhotic patients were measured using abdominal B ultrasound and enhanced CT.The inner diameters of their main portal vein and the flow rates of their portal veins were estimated using color Doppler ultrasound,and the portal venous flows were subsequently calculated.The patients were scored for liver function per the criteria for Child-Pugh classification.The extent of their esophageal varices was assessed using gastroscopy.Results: The study identified significantly more decompensated liver cirrhotic patients in the senior group than in the non-senior group,and the difference was statistically significant.However,the inner diameter of the portal vein,flow rate,portal venous flow,and spleen length and thickness were not significantly different between senior liver cirrhotic patients with and those without portal hypertension.Conclusion: The hemodynamic change of portal vein provides some meaningful guidance to the diagnosis of portal hypertension in senior liver cirrhotic patients.