Question

5. cirrhosis of the liver, a disease commonly associated with alcoholism, obstructs blood flow through hepatic blood vessels. as a result, blood backs up and capillary pressure greatly increases in organs drained by the hepatic portal system. what effects might this increasing capillary pressure produce, and which organs would it affect?

Answer 1

Some effects of increased capillary pressure in the portal system are:

• Varices: These are enlarged and swollen veins that form in areas where blood can bypass the portal system, such as the esophagus, stomach, rectum or belly button. Varices can rupture and bleed, causing potentially life-threatening complications such as hemorrhage and shock.

• Ascites: This is the accumulation of excess fluid in the abdomen due to leakage from the surface of the liver and intestine. Ascites can cause abdominal discomfort, bloating, shortness of breath or an infection.

• Encephalopathy: This is a condition that affects brain function due to toxins (such as ammonia) that are not cleared by the liver. Encephalopathy can cause confusion, memory loss, mood changes and coma.

These effects can affect various organs in different ways depending on their location and severity. For example:

• Varices can affect the esophagus (causing difficulty swallowing), stomach (causing ulcers), rectum (causing bleeding) or belly button (causing hernia).

• Ascites can affect the lungs (causing pleural effusion), kidneys (causing renal failure), heart (causing cardiac failure) or intestines (causing bowel obstruction).

• Encephalopathy can affect any part of the brain depending on which toxins accumulate.

I hope this helps :)