| Portal hypertension in children refers to the blocked and/or increased blood flow of the portal vein system and the dysfunction of vasodilation and contraction caused by various causes, resulting in continuous increase of pressure of the portal vein and its branches. The pressure of the portal vein exceeds 5 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), or the pressure gradient of the portal vein and hepatic vein exceeds 10 mmHg, eventually leading to the formation and opening of the splenomegaly and portacaval collateral circulation, as well as ascites and other clinical manifestations. It is an abnormal hemodynamic syndrome. Portal hypertension in children can be divided into cirrhotic portal hypertension and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension according to the etiology. According to the anatomical location of pressure source, portal hypertension can be divided into pre-hepatic, intrahepatic (pre-sinusoidal, sinusoidal, post-sinusoidal) and post-hepatic. Therapeutic methods include drug therapy, varicose vein ligation or sclerosis, surgical treatment, etc. Although the incidence of portal hypertension in children is low, it can cause severe complications such as gastroesophageal varices bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy. In order to strengthen the understanding of this disease, improve the cure rate and reduce complications, this paper reviews the progress in etiological classification, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. |