Management of portal hypertension and its consequences.

Increased pressure in the protal venous system results from impedance to blood flow at any point along it's course from the splanchnic circulation through the liver to the right heart. Typical manifestations of sustained increases in portal venous pressure commonly may include accumulation of abdominal fluid and development of acquired portosystemic shunts. Pathophysiology of altered portal vascular dynamics, diagnostic approach for animals suspected of having an intra-abdominal source of portal hypertension and treatment options are discussed.