Portal Hypertension: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects
Last Updated: Dec 20, 2024
What is the treatment?
malignant hypertension
How is the treatment done?
Portal hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure inside your portal nervous system increases. The veins attached to the portal nervous system which are also connected to the liver and other arteries are blocked due to this high pressure. The increased blood pressure also lead to the development of swollen veins in the food pipe, stomach and other areas. Suddenly these might rupture and cause internal bleeding which leads to various complications. The cause of this condition is known to be cirrhosis of liver which are caused by hepatitis, excessive drinking and various parasitic infections. Sometimes the case might also be unknown. If you are diagnosed with this condition then your arteries are blocked and it does not support proper blood flow within your body. This condition also caused the levels of blood platelets to drop and causes various blood clots that harm the proper blood flow and restrain you from fighting against foreign antibodies in your blood. It is a common case scenario that everyone with a form of cirrhosis will develop portal hypertension and esophagogastric varices. Common symptoms of this disease are nausea and vomiting, jaundice and dark urine, muscle cramps, sudden excessive bleeding without any injury. You might also develop some abnormal behaviors with this condition.
Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?)
The first step in the treatment procedure for portal hypertension begins with physical examinations associated with the abdomen or the anus. Most of the portal hypertension cases cannot be cured completely. The treatment therefore mainly focuses on preventing the symptoms of this disease and managing the complications associated with it. Some basic remedies that your medical expert can provide are that you should follow a healthy diet, endoscopic therapies and even radiology procedures. The internal bleeding can be controlled by endoscopic therapies which is also known as sclerotherapy. It is a process where a blood clotting solution is injected in your body to stop the internal bleeding. The liver does not function properly and sometimes your medical expert might also suggest for a liver transplant. Other treatment measures are to quit drinking as most of the cirrhosis of liver occurs with excessive alcohol consumption which eventually leads to liver failure. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) are also a common procedure for the treatment of this condition where a stent or a medical tubular equipment is placed on the portal vein which helps to transfer and the smooth flow of blood into the liver in order to relieve the excess pressure over the connected veins.
Who is not eligible for the treatment?
Anyone who is diagnosed with cirrhosis of liver it is advised to obtain for treatment of this condition. If you have this liver disease then you are likely to have this condition as well. If you face other liver problems that indicate a sign of cirrhosis of liver then you should seek medical help as soon as possible. With proper tests and the respective results, you might be eligible for the course of treatment of this condition.
Are there any side effects?
Those who have normal liver problems and have normal high blood pressure, they do not need to obtain this form of treatment. Individuals who have not been diagnosed with any form of cirrhosis, they do not need this form of treatment.
What are the post-treatment guidelines?
Common side effects are nausea, weaknesses, and tiredness. You may sometimes face some digestive system problems as well.
How long does it take to recover?
You should have a check up with your medical expert periodically and you should also maintain a proper diet. You should follow the therapies that your medical expert has advised you to. If you are treated with cirrhosis of liver then quit drinking immediately. You should also not use any street drugs as they will be extremely harmful for your liver.
What is the price of the treatment in India?
This condition cannot be eliminated completely. However, you can keep the symptoms of this condition in control and eliminate most of the difficulties that you faced. If you had a surgery then you can resume your day to day activities within two weeks. If you follow regular checkups and take medicines as prescribed by your medical expert properly then you should be fit within a month.
Are the results of the treatment permanent?
What are the alternatives to the treatment?
Portal hypertension is not completely curable but with proper treatment the symptoms of this condition can be controlled. With drug abuse and excessive drinking, the symptoms of the liver problems might arise again and if you do not take care of your health by maintaining exercises and a healthy diet then the blood pressure levels might rise again which will cause complications in the course of treatment.
References
- Portal Hypertension- Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. my.clevelandclinic.org 2017 [Cited 23 August 2019]. Available from:
- Portal Hypertension: Introduction- The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System [Internet]. hopkinsmedicine.org [Cited 23 August 2019]. Available from:
- Portal Hypertension- Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. merckmanuals.com 2018 [Cited 23 August 2019]. Available from:
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