Portal hypertension in childhood: Two centers experience and literature review; [Çocukluk çağında portal hipertansiyon: İki merkez deneyimi ve literatür incelemesi]
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2015
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Introduction: In this study, our objective is to make an assessment of the patients whom we have followed with portal hypertension. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 portal hypertension patients, followed between 2005 and 2013, were evaluated retrospectively with regards to demographic data, complaints leading to their application and treatments they received. Results: The average age of the patients was 9.3±5.3, 38.1% of the patients were female and 61.9% were male. Of the patients, 28.6% received portal hypertension diagnosis due to gastrointestinal system bleeding, 14.3% due to abdominal distention, 28.6% due to splenomegaly, 9.5% due to hepatosplenomegaly and 19% due to elevated liver function tests. The average age of receiving the diagnosis was 6.8±4.7 and duration of the follow-up was 3.4±1.7 years. Of the patients, 85.7% had esophageal varices according to the upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy and beta-blocker therapy was applied to all patients except for one. The follow-up of the patients revealed that 52.4% of them had gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to portal hypertension. The patients received sclerotherapy (4.8%), band ligation (19%), band ligation and sclerotherapy together (23.8%). One patient received Rex Shunt and two patients had distal splenorenal shunt. Conclusions: Variceal hemorrhage is the most important complication observed in the follow-up of the portal hypertension. Portal hypertension complications can be prevented with early diagnosis as a result of taking medical, endoscopic and surgical measures. © The Journal of Current Pediatrics, published by Galenos Publishing.