[Histologic changes in the lungs and heart in children with extrahepatic blockade of the portal circulation].

The lungs and heart of 16 children with extrahepatic block of portal circulation who had died of esophageal-gastric bleeding and postoperative complications were studied histologically. The signs of restructuring of the lung microcirculation bed showing development of secondary pulmonary hypertension were observed in all the patients regardless of the duration and degree of portal hypertension. This was manifested in hypertrophy of the artery walls of the 2nd and 3rd order, hyperelastosis and sclerosis of their intima. "Arterialization" of the wall of the lobular and interlobular veins, arterio-venous, veno-venular and glomus anastomoses, focal alveolar proteinosis, hyperplasia and metaplasia of bronchial epithelium were observed. Irregular hypertrophy and degeneration of cardiomyocytes up to necrosis of some units were found in the heart. Pericellular and perivascular sclerosis developed in the subendocardial areas.