Liver Portal Vein Thrombosis Treatment Patient Story

He could not be treated in Germany, he regained his health in Turkey

Living in Germany, 42-year-old Medvete Ramadani applied to General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Ünver because a mass causing portal hypertension in her abdomen was detected and could not be treated surgically in Germany. Medvete Ramadani regained her health with a successful operation performed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Ünver and his team.

Providing information about the operation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Ünver said, “Medvete Ramadani had surgery in Germany four years ago due to pancreatic cancer. While receiving chemotherapy at the time, she applied to many doctors and centers with complaints of bleeding, swelling in her abdomen and weakness, but could not get any results. Our patient was not given the chance for surgical intervention due to the mass that formed in her abdomen, liver and on the portal vein above the liver. While her intense stomach bleeding continued, our patient applied to us in Turkey, seeking a surgical intervention. After the examinations conducted with our team, we detected the mass that caused portal hypertension. After the successful surgery, our patient’s bleeding stopped and the swelling in her abdomen disappeared. We discharged her in good health.”

PORTAL HYPERTENSION

Portal hypertension is the name given to the condition in which blood pressure in the vascular system inside and around the liver exceeds normal. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Ünver provided the following information: “This condition usually occurs when there is a problem that prevents blood circulation in the liver and is caused by scar tissue in the liver due to chronic liver disease. However, there may be other underlying causes of portal hypertension. For example, portal vein thrombosis, extrahepatic vascular occlusions or rare genetic disorders. The basic mechanism underlying portal hypertension is the increase in pressure on a large vein called the portal vein. The portal vein is the main vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver, and the liver filters and cleans this blood. If there is any obstacle in the liver during this process or an obstacle in the vascular system outside the liver, this makes it difficult for the liver to clean the blood, which increases the pressure. If there is such a problem in the liver, vascular dilation may occur, which leads to the formation of varicose veins. These varicose veins are weak and carry the risk of rupture, which can lead to life-threatening bleeding. Symptoms include varicose veins and accumulation of gastric juices (ascites) in the esophagus, enlargement of the spleen and bloating in the abdomen.”

EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF APPETITE MAY OCCUR

Stating that patients with portal hypertension usually show general liver disease indicators such as fatigue, loss of appetite and yellowing of the skin, Ünver said, “In the treatment of portal hypertension, treatment options may vary depending on the patient's condition. Medical, endoscopic and surgical treatment methods are usually used for treatment.”