Splenic vein thrombosis

A retrospective review of all admissions to the University of Kentucky Medical Center from 1977 to 1987 revealed six persons in whom splenic vein thrombosis could be documented. The patients had either upper gastrointestinal bleeding from gastroesophageal varices or abdominal pain. Pancreatic disease was present in five patients (83%), three (50%) had splenic enlargement, and five (83%) had normal results of liver function tests. Angiography showed an occluded splenic vein with collateral flow and a patent portal vein in each of the four patients studied. All patients had splenectomy, with or without additional procedures. After a mean follow-up period of 9 1/2 months, five patients (83%) were alive, and none has had further gastrointestinal bleeding. One patient had died of recurrent pancreatic carcinoma at nine months. Our data suggest that localized portal hypertension induced by splenic vein thrombosis is appropriately treated by splenectomy.