Abstract: The portal vein thrombosis （PVT） is a common complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. The upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage usually occurs in patients with PVT. The main mechanism of PVT formation is the reduction of portal vein blood flow velocity. At present,medicine selection is priority to the management of PVT. Studies have shown that anticoagulant therapy does not increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding,and it is recommended that the patients having the indications should be given anticoagulants for PVT. The routine anticoagulation can reduce the incidence of portal thrombosis in patients having partial splenic artery embolization. So far,many problems are still need to be solved in early diagnosis,monitoring indexes for anticoagulation,the dosage of heparin and prevention of recurrence in dealing with patients with PVT.

Key words: Portal vein thrombosis, Liver cirrhosis, Mechanism, Treatment