Aktuelle Aspekte der Milzchirurgie im Kindesalter
Editors: J. Wit, Berlin

Original Article · Originalarbeit

Subklinische portosystemische Enzephalopathie und Lungenstrombahnveränderungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit portaler Hypertension bei prähepatischem Block
U. Otting, C. Hellmann, C. Planke, R. Lehmann, S. Gottschalk

Address of Corresponding Author

Chir Gastroenterol 2001;17:24-27 (DOI: 10.1159/000049615)

  Summary

Subclinical Portosystemic Encephalopathy and Changes of Lung Stream Course in Children and Juveniles with Portal Hypertension due to Prehepatic Block

A subclinical encephalopathy was found by means of psychometric tests, EEG and VECP in 50% of children and juveniles with surgically and conservatively treated portal hypertension due to prehepatic block (n = 36). The patients with subclinical encephalopathy had visually qualified bilateral symmetric hyperintensity in the basal ganglia of the brain in the T₁-weighted image. The changes of the signal intensity correlated with the function of the portal systemic shunt and/or the severity of the liver dysfunction. Decreased diffusion capacity (< 80% of reference input) could be measured in 75% of shunt patients (n = 20) 16 years after shunt operation with non-invasive methods by means of spirometry, body plethysmography, determination of diffusion, analysis of blood gases, ECG, and ECHO. This decreased diffusion capacity can already be considered as a reference to changes of lung stream course, even if the patients are asymptomatic.

Copyright © 2001 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg