This book thoroughly covers various diseases induced by portal hypertension, and introduces novel information for the treatment of patients. Individual chapters address the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment options available for the complications induced by portal hypertension. The book fosters practical understanding and provides more evidence-based treatment options in order to improve physicians’ ability to select optimal treatment methods for their patients. Further, it offers readers the latest information concerning developments of the disease such as esophaogastric varices, ectopic varices, portal thrombosis, refractory ascites and hepatic encephalopathy. Clinical Science of Portal Hypertensions is an indispensible resource for both beginning and experienced gastroenterological physicians, endoscopists, liver physicians, radiologists, gastroenterological surgeons, liver surgeons, etc. who treat patients with portal hypertension on a clinical or research basis.

This book, the seventh in a series of proceedings volumes that began in 1995, reviews the latest developments in the diagnosis and management of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. It addresses a broad range of topics, including: risk stratification, HVPG, non-invasive surrogates for cACLD, CSPH, varices, progression and regression of cirrhosis, impact of etiological therapy on cirrhosis, impact of non-etiological novel therapies on cirrhosis, prevention of first/further decompensation, acute variceal hemorrhage, and Vascular Liver Disorders in Cirrhosis (VALDIG). The book is a compilation of lectures and important consensus statements from the Seventh Baveno International Consensus Workshop on Portal Hypertension, the latest in a series of workshops held every five years for hepatologists with an interest in the field. Portal Hypertension VII offers a valuable reference guide for clinical and research fellows in Gastroenterology and Hepatology and will inspire new research projects in the promising areas identified by the experts of the Baveno VII Faculty.

A cutting-edge review of the latest findings on key scientific topics and the best strategies for evaluation and management of portal hypertension in the clinic. Writing in an easy-to-read style, the authors review its pathobiology, the progress being made in its experimental understanding, the methodologies to assess it in humans, the treatment of its complications (esophageal varices, ascites, and hepatorenal syndrome), and its treatment in special circumstances (during pregnancy, in children, or when the portal vein is blocked). They also provide in-depth coverage of the pros and cons of the various therapeutic choices available to the clinician managing patients with complicated portal hypertension.

Portal hypertension is causally related to major complications of chronic liver disease like upper GI tract bleeding, ascites formation, portosystemic encephalopathy and bacterial infections. In recent years, new approaches have increased our knowledge of the underlying pathobiological events of these complications. Accordingly, new promising treatment modalities have been developed and introduced into clinical trials. This book, the proceedings of the 79th Falk Symposium in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany, 17--19 June 1994, presents the latest developments in the field, including a section which describes the role of portal hypertension in the pathogenesis of complications of chronic liver disease. Also covered is the therapeutic management of portal hypertension and its consequences as well as the latest endoscopic, interventional and surgical treatment options. This book is essential reading for those whose interests range from anatomy and pathobiology through to practical recommendations for treatment of portal hypertension.

Current recommendations for diagnosis and management of portal hypertension This book presents the proceedings from the 'Baveno IV International Consensus Workshop: Methodology of diagnosis and treatment in portal hypertension' which was held on April 28-29, 2005 in Baveno, Italy. These meetings are important to raise awareness of difficulties and defining some key events related to portal hypertension and variceal bleeding. They also help to produce guidelines aimed at improving trials conducted in this field. Since the Baveno III meeting, new diagnostic tools, new drugs and new treatment strategies for portal hypertension have been developed. Therefore this book updates recommendations for diagnosis and management. It includes evidence from the workshop on pathophysiology, natural history, methods of evaluation and established treatments of portal hypertension. In addition, this books looks at important emerging topics such as the role of coagulation disturbances, portopulmonary hypertension and the hepatopulmonary syndrome, hepato-renal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and infections. This gives clinicians and investigators current evidence and helps to inform treatment decisions.

Portal hypertension is the most important complication of a great variety of both acute and chronic liver diseases. Nevertheless, hepatic cirrhosis is the most frequent cause of portal hypertension. Gastrointestinal bleeding due to rupture of oesophageal varices is, without doubt, the most severe complication of portal hypertension. At present, great advances are being made in the pathophysiology and in the development of new therapeutic tools for controlling and preventing this severe clinical event. This book contains the papers presented and discussed during the Symposium on 'Portal Hypertension in the 21st Century', held in Montréal, Canada, in April 2004, and sponsored by Axcan Pharma Inc. and NicOx S.A. There are eight sections covering basic mechanisms, new drugs, prevention and current treatment of variceal bleeding, prevention of recurrent bleeding and hepatic hemodynamic monitoring. An international faculty of authors have contributed chapters at an outstanding scientific level which will be vital reading for scientists and clinicians alike.