Effect of anthropometrical measurements on portal vein and hepatosplenic span

Effect of age, gender and BMI on the diameter and velocity of portal vein: All the nutrient rich blood from the GIT flows into the portal vein which determines the anatomical division of the hepatic lobes.1,2 The length of the portal vein is of surgical importance which is often cut down to link with the other vessels in interventional procedures like liver transplantation, trans hepatic portal vein embolization and pancreatectomy.3-5 It is an established fact that the normal hepatopetal flow in portal vein is affected in diseased individuals but it can also vary considerably in normal individuals making it a strong predictor for future portal vein diseases.2,3,6 Several studies have been performed to establish the normal upper limits of the portal vein diameter (PVD) but these values vary according to the sonographer, mode of technique and the population being studied upon.3,4,7,8 Literature review has shown that the most primitive diameter of portal vein was established as 6.3 ± 2.3mm.6 A cross sectional gray scale ultrasound assessment of portal vein in Ethiopian population was done, 1. Dr. Tanya Raza Siddiqui, MBBS, M. Phil Candidate, Senior Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, 2. Dr. Nuzhat Hassan, M.philAnatomy, Head of Department of Anatomy, 3. Dr. Pashmina Gul, FCPS, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, 1-3: Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.