pubmed:abstractText |
In 19 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension, a catheter was inserted into the portal vein using a percutaneous transhepatic technique. The portal pressure was measured during general anaesthesia with and without halothane, and in the awake state. Addition of halothane to the N2O:O2 anaesthesia did not change portal venous pressure, in spite of a significant fall in arterial blood pressure. Portal venous pressure under general anaesthesia with complete muscle relaxation did not differ from the pressure in the resting, awake patient.
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