Coronary vein diameter and flow direction in patients with portal hypertension: evaluation with duplex sonography and correlation with variceal bleeding.

Abstract

The diameter of the coronary vein may measure up to 6 mm on sonograms of normal subjects. Dilatation of the coronary vein (diameter > 6 mm) does not occur in most patients with portal hypertension, and need not be present for variceal hemorrhage to occur. Hepatofugal flow in the coronary vein is a common and useful Doppler sonographic sign of portal hypertension. Preservation of hepatopetal flow in the coronary vein in patients with portal hypertension may be associated with a low risk of variceal hemorrhage.