Ultrasound detection of unusual spontaneous portosystemic shunts associated with uncomplicated portal hypertension.

Seven cases of unusual spontaneous portosystemic shunts observed by ultrasonography in the last 8 months are reported, including cases of coronary vein varicocele and patent umbilical vein; two cases of spleno-retroperitoneal anastomosis; omphalo-ilio-caval anastomosis; superior mesenteric vein-inferior vena cava anastomosis; spleno-renal anastomosis; and spleno-portal anastomosis and anastomosis from the splenic vein to the abdominal wall. One of these collateral vessels was also analyzed by pulsed Doppler flowmetry. The patients were either cirrhotic or had pre-hepatic portal hypertension (resulting from chronic pancreatitis) and gave no history of gastrointestinal bleeding or ascites. Two of these patients had previously undergone surgery for problems associated with cholestasis. In both cases, presurgical sonographic studies were used to guide the surgical procedures in the hope of preserving the anomalous connections. Furthermore, ultrasound detection of spontaneous portosystemic shunts was an important factor in interpreting the clinical symptoms of these patients.