What tests are used to diagnose portal hypertension?
Children who are suspected to have portal hypertension will undergo a thorough evaluation that can include the following:
- Physical exam
- Blood tests to assess how well the liver is working and if an underlying liver disease exists
- Imaging tests that can include an ultrasound, CT scan or an abdominal angiogram to take pictures of the blood vessels
- Endoscopic evaluation, which uses a small camera to check for GI bleeding
- Liver biopsy
What to expect from an endoscopic evaluation and a liver biopsy
Endoscopic evaluations and liver biopsies are performed in our Gastroenterology (GI) Procedure Center by a board-certified pediatric hepatologist and pediatric anesthesiologist.
The biopsy is performed under general anesthesia, so your child experiences no pain or discomfort. The doctor will remove a small piece of the liver through a tiny cut in the skin using a special needle. A board-certified pediatric pathologist with extensive experience evaluating pediatric liver biopsies will review this sample of liver tissue.
How do we make a diagnosis for portal hypertension?
We make a diagnosis for portal hypertension by examining your child’s medical history, performing a physical exam and verifying imaging tests. The liver biopsy helps the doctor identify how well the liver is functioning and if an underlying liver disease is causing portal hypertension. Common symptoms of pediatric portal hypertension, which would prompt a referral to our Pediatric Liver Center, include upper GI bleeding and an enlarged spleen.
Why choose us to test for portal hypertension?
The Pediatric Liver Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado has extensive experience caring for children with portal hypertension. We have a multidisciplinary team of specialists who can quickly and accurately analyze blood tests and perform imaging tests, endoscopic evaluations, and if necessary, a liver biopsy to evaluate for portal hypertension.
We not only provide diagnostic testing, but also a variety of medical and surgical treatment options to allow us to individualize your child’s care in the short and long term. Some children with portal hypertension and liver disease will require liver transplant. If liver transplantation is necessary, our team in the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program has extensive experience performing transplants in children with portal hypertension, using both deceased donor and live donor liver transplants.