When increase in the pressure within the portal vein, it leads to hypertension of vein which carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. This hypertension of portal view is caused due to blockage in the blood flow passing through the liver. This increased pressure of portal vein leads to large veins to develop across the esophagus and stomach to bypass the blockage, causing varicies to bleed and making it very weak. Internal bleeding in the veins of the liver usually occurs in the esophagus or stomach.

The first action to stop bleeding is medication and endoscopic techniques, such as sclerotherapy, banding, and balloon tamponade. If endoscopic techniques fail to stop the bleeding, then minimally invasive or surgical shunt procedures are done by a highly trained laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeon with an aim to create an alternate pathway for blockage blood flow to relieve portal hypertension and bleeding varices. The surgical procedure which is commonly used is called distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS). Also, alternative surgical procedure is a minimally invasive surgery called transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for which very few are suitable.

Dr Randeep Wadhawan has vast experience is conducting GI Surgeries including surgery for elevated pressure of portal vein.