Question

You are performing a Doppler study of the portal vein and detect that the flow direction in the main portal vein is the same as the hepatic artery. What does this indicate?

A) A normal flow direction in the PV

B) Severe portal hypertension

C) Hepatofugal flow

D) Reversed hepatic artery flow

E) Portal vein/hepatic artery fistula

Answer 1

The detection of flow direction in the main portal vein being the same as the hepatic artery in a Doppler study indicates severe portal hypertension.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing a Doppler study of the portal vein, if you detect that the flow direction in the main portal vein is the same as the hepatic artery, it indicates severe portal hypertension (B). Normally, blood flows from the portal vein into the liver and from the hepatic artery into the liver, then out through the hepatic vein to the inferior vena cava. If the blood flow in the portal vein is going in the same direction as the hepatic artery, this suggests that the pressure in the portal vein is abnormally high, causing a reversal of the typical flow and indicating portal hypertension.