treatments can lower the blood pressure in the portal venous system

treatments can lower the blood pressure in the portal venous system a number of therapies can lower the pressure of the veins that drain from the bowel into the liver. The first choice of therapy usually consists of drug therapy with medications known as non-selective beta-blockers. These medications need to be taken everyday to produce an effect. Some people may not be able to remain on beta-blocker therapy if they develop side effects from taking them. Other people on beta-blocker therapy will remain at risk for bleeding from varices and from the development of fluid formation (ascites).

Another approach is to seal off the veins to prevent rupturing. In sclerotherapy, a camera (endoscope) is passed down through the esophagus to inject the abnormal veins with substances that close them off. With variceal band ligation, the abnormal veins are tied off with small rubber bands. Although sclerotherapy and variceal band ligation are very effective in targeting the abnormal and fragile veins around the esophagus, they do not lower the pressure of the blood inside the portal venous system. This portal hypertension may continue to allow fluid to develop inside the abdominal cavity, or may allow bleeding to occur from other areas of the bowel such as the stomach (portal gastropathy).

 treatments can lower the blood pressure in the portal venous system