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'Benign' hepatic portal venous gas
Andrew F Little1, Samantha J Ellis
1Department of Medical Imaging, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. AFLittle@bigpond.com
Australasian Radiology
|August 2, 2003
Summary
Portal venous gas typically indicates a poor prognosis. However, this study presents rare cases of patients recovering well despite initial signs of bowel ischemia and portal venous gas.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Portal venous gas (PVG) in hepatic parenchyma often signifies severe conditions like bowel necrosis.
- Associated mortality rates for PVG can be as high as 75%.
Observation:
- This report details three patients presenting with symptoms and imaging suggestive of bowel ischemia and PVG.
- Two patients underwent laparotomy revealing distended but non-necrotic bowel.
Findings:
- All three patients experienced uneventful clinical recoveries.
- These cases highlight infrequent causes of PVG unrelated to dire clinical outcomes.
Implications:
- PVG does not always portend a grave prognosis.
- Clinical and imaging findings of bowel ischemia require careful evaluation in conjunction with PVG for accurate patient assessment and management.