Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Portal vein thrombosis.

M M Olson1, P B Ilada, K N Apelgren

  • 1Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, 1200 E. Michigan Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48912, USA.

Surgical Endoscopy
|June 12, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT), a rare but serious complication after splenectomy, can lead to severe outcomes. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial for managing this condition and preserving bowel viability.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Wound infection after infrainguinal bypass operations: multivariate analysis of putative risk factors.

Surgical infections·2003
Same author

The need for training opportunities in advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Surgical endoscopy·2001
Same author

"Terminal" wean is the wrong term.

Critical care medicine·2000
Same author

Are radially dilating trocars better than the alternatives?

Surgical endoscopy·2000
Same author

Successful repair of blunt cardiac rupture involving both ventricles.

Cardiovascular surgery (London, England)·1999
Same author

Back pain, femoral vein thrombosis, and an iliopsoas cyst: unusual presentation of a loose total hip arthroplasty.

Orthopedics·1997

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a known complication of hepatic disease and splenectomy, though its incidence is often underestimated.
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet counts, often treated with splenectomy when refractory to medication.

Observation:

  • A 19-year-old woman with ITP underwent laparoscopic splenectomy and initially recovered well.
  • Twenty-one days post-surgery, she developed nausea, vomiting, and leukocytosis, with CT scans revealing PVT and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis.
  • Despite medical management, her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to extensive small bowel necrosis requiring multiple surgical interventions.

Findings:

  • Post-splenectomy PVT can present with vague symptoms and has a high risk of morbidity, as demonstrated by extensive bowel necrosis in this case.
  • Contrast-enhanced CT and color-flow Doppler are essential for nonoperative diagnosis of PVT.
  • Aggressive thrombolysis is the preferred treatment to improve outcomes and maintain bowel viability.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the critical need for heightened clinical suspicion for PVT in patients presenting with non-specific symptoms after splenectomy.
  • Prompt diagnosis and aggressive therapeutic strategies, including thrombolysis, are vital for preventing catastrophic complications like bowel infarction.
  • Further research into risk factors and optimal management protocols for post-splenectomy PVT is warranted.

Related Experiment Videos