Essentials Of Human Disease 2nd Edition by Leonard Crowley

Exercise 15

Peter Smith has had a problem for many years with excess alcohol consumption and now has cirrhosis with ascites and dilated esophageal veins. His physician has recommended that he have a procedure performed to connect a branch of the portal vein to a systemic vein in order to lower the portal pressure and reduce his risk of bleeding from a ruptured esophageal vein. He asks you why the dilated esophageal veins (varices) developed and how a procedure could improve the situation. Peter also wants to know if the procedure will cause the scarred liver to return to normal if he stops drinking. What would you tell him?