Q26.6: Portal vein-hepatic artery fistula

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. The nutrient-rich blood from the abdominal organs flows through the portal vein into the liver.

An extra connection between your portal vein and your hepatic artery developed before you were born. Arteries are blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart. They supply all the tissue in the body with oxygen-rich blood. Because of the extra connection, more blood than normal flows into your portal vein.

This defect may mean that the portal vein and the liver are put under greater strain as a result of the additional blood flow. This can cause damage to the liver, for example. The extra blood may also build up in the portal vein before reaching the liver, often causing the blood to flow back to the heart through other blood vessels. These blood vessels run through the oesophagus or under the skin on the abdomen, for example. These blood vessels can greatly expand and cause problems. For example, if the blood vessels tear, you could lose a lot of blood.