Percutaneous transhepatic portography. III. Relationships between portosystemic collaterals and portal pressure in cirrhosis.

The relationships among collateral veins, gastroesophageal varices, extrahepatic shunting, and free portal pressure were studied by percutaneous transhepatic portography in 57 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The size of esophageal varices was related to the size of the coronary and short gastric veins and to the portal pressure. The size of gastric varices was related to cephalad collaterals from the spleen and splenic vein, but not to portal pressure. Portosystemic shunting was associated with collaterals in the lower abdomen, but not with varices or portal pressure.