Portal hypertension is defined by an hepatic venous pressure gradient greater than 5mmHg. It is usually caused by an increase in resistance in the portal-hepatic vascular bed due to obstruction to flow. The severe forms of schistosomiasis usually evolve with portal hypertension, esophageal, intraabdominal, retroperitoneal and abdominal wall varices. Massive bleeding due to esophageal or gastric variceal rupture is the major complication of portal hypertension in schistosomiasis. In regard to treatment, clinical (propranolol, somatostain, octreotide), endoscopic (sclerotherapy, clips and ligature of varices), vascular (TIPS - transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) and surgical (portosystemic shunts and portovariceal disconnection) approaches have been tried to decrease portal hypertension and prevent bleeding. In the present review the author discusses the subject emphasizing the surgical procedures.
Schistosomiasis mansoni; Portal hypertension; Variceal hemorrhage
