[The portal system and the hepatic artery in children with extrahepatic bile duct atresia. 2: Further duplex sonography parameters and flowmetry].

Since 1 1/2 year we performed duplex-sonographic examinations including flowmetry of the portal system and hepatic artery in children with biliary atresia. In children with hepatofugal collaterals we found a significant decreased Time Average Velocity (TAV) with 0.09 m/s against the control group with TAV of 0.18 m/s. The TAV in the splenic vein was also decreased. In the hepatic artery we found no change of the TAV. In most of the children a portal hypertension with hepatofugal collaterals was to be found in the first year of life. In 14 children the collaterals were visible. In these 14 children and 7 other children calculated parameters indicated the very high probability of collateral vessels. In children with hepatofugal collaterals we found a decreased portal vein flow. In 16 of 21 cases the flow in the hepatic artery was increased.