Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What condition is associated with increased portal hypertension?

1. Hepatitis

2. Acute pulmonary embolism

3. Tension pneumothorax

4. Cardiac tamponade

The correct answer is: Cardiac tamponade

Increased portal hypertension is primarily associated with conditions affecting the liver and its vascular system. The correct answer relates to liver dysfunction, which can lead to increased resistance to blood flow in the portal vein system. Portal hypertension is often a result of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, where scar tissue blocks normal blood flow through the liver. In the case of hepatitis, inflammation and swelling of the liver impede blood flow, leading to increased pressure in the portal venous system. While acute pulmonary embolism, tension pneumothorax, and cardiac tamponade are serious conditions that affect blood flow and pressure, they do not specifically cause increased portal hypertension. Acute pulmonary embolism affects the pulmonary veins and arteries, tension pneumothorax involves lung collapse affecting thoracic pressures, and cardiac tamponade occurs when fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac, compressing the heart. These conditions impact systemic or pulmonary circulation rather than the portal system directly. Understanding the connection between liver function and portal hypertension highlights why hepatitis is relevant to the question about increased portal hypertension, as it directly correlates with hepatic portal blood flow and pressure dynamics.