Percutaneous transhepatic catheterization technique of the portal venous system.

The most widespread technique for catheterization of the portal venous system is the percutaneous transhepatic with selective catheterization of the portal tributaries. The procedure is most often used for portography in patients with liver cirrhosis, but can also be used for pharmacoligic, metabolic and hemodynamic studies. By selective catheterization of the gastrooesophageal veins varices can be obliterated. Selective catheterization of the pancreatic veins with blood sampling for hormone assay may diagnose and localize endocrine pancreatic tumours.