Expert pediatric opinion on the Report of the Baveno IV consensus workshop on methodology of diagnosis and therapy in portal hypertension

Abstract

Portal hypertension leads to a wide variety of complications, which lead to significant morbidity and mortality and are some of the leading reasons for liver transplantation in children with chronic liver disease. Evidence-based approaches to the management of adults with portal hypertension exist and have been comprehensively reviewed in a series of international meetings, including the Baveno meetings. Similar evidence-based approaches for the management of portal hypertension in children do not exist and as such international meetings on portal hypertension have not focused on this problem in children. On October 7, 2005 at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a panel of pediatric experts reviewed the most recent Baveno statement and crafted a statement modified with their opinions vis a vis approaches to the management of portal hypertension in children.