Portal hypertensive bleeding

Portal hypertension is defined as an increase in pressure above 5 mm Hg in the portal venous system. Portal hypertension, although often asymptomatic, can lead to complications like gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, splenomegaly, and thrombocytopenia. The complications associated with portal hypertension substantially contribute to the 32,000 deaths and greater than 20 million days of work loss associated with cirrhosis annually in the United States [1]. Understanding how to recognize and treat these complications is an important component in the logical management of any patient with portal hypertension. This article focuses on the prevention and treatment of portal hypertensive bleeding.