K76.6: Portal hypertension
The blood from the stomach and intestines is guided into the liver via a blood vessel. As a result, the nutrients from food get right into the liver. This blood vessel is the portal vein. The blood then flows through the liver. The blood is then conducted from the liver to the heart.
The liver is an important organ on the top right of the abdomen. For example, it helps with blood clotting and detoxifying the body. Nutrients from food are processed in the liver.
You have pressure in your portal vein that is too high. The pressure in the portal vein can increase for instance when the tissue in the liver changes and the blood vessels are constricted by the altered liver tissue.
Pressure that is constantly too high in the portal vein may result in the blood seeking another path toward the heart. As a result, blood vessels that are otherwise not used much may become enlarged. These may be blood vessels on the gullet, stomach or skin, for example.
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