Stanley A J, Bouchier I A, Hayes P C
Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Br J Hosp Med. 1997;58(1):39-43.
Portal hypertension occurs secondary to a combination of increased resistance to portal venous flow and increased splanchnic inflow to the portal venous system. The main clinical complication is gastrooesophageal haemorrhage from which mortality remains high at approximately 40%.