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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy
Published on: June 18, 2020
Postmortem computed tomographic (PMCT) demonstration of the relation between gastrointestinal (GI) distension and
Seiji Shiotani1, Mototsugu Kohno, Noriyoshi Ohashi
1Department of Radiology, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8558, Japan.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between gastrointestinal (GI) distension and hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).
Materials And Methods:
Our subjects were 190 PMCT obtained within two hours of non-traumatic death [175 patients underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and 15 patients did not undergo CPR]. We evaluated the incidence and location of GI distension (0 = no distension, 1 = stomach and duodenum, 2 = more distal than 1) and HPVG (0 = no gas, 1 = left lobe, 2 = 1 + right anterior lobe, 3 = 2 + right posterior lobe).
Results:
GI distension (grade 0/1/2 = 58/55/62 patients) and HPVG (grade 0/1/2/3 = 114/10/ 28/23 patients) were observed in 175 patients who underwent CPR. The grade of HPVG increased significantly in accordance with the advancement of GI distension. Fifteen patients without undergoing CPR showed no GI distension but one patient showed grade 1 HPVG.
Conclusion:
PMCT indicates the presence of a relation between GI distension and HPVG.
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