Computed Tomography Identifies Hepatic Portal Venous Gas Caused by Severe Diarrhoea

To use computed tomography (CT) to diagnose the reasons for hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) in the case of an elderly male patient.

This is a case study of an elderly male patient who suffered acute, obvious abdominal pain accompanied with stop of exhaust defecation following three days of diarrhoea, abdominal distention and emesis. The patient also developed asthma, which gradually became severe. The patient was admitted to the hospital where he underwent a physical examination and a CT scan.

The CT results confirmed that the patient was suffering from HPVG caused by severe diarrhoea. The CT scan showed obvious expansion and pneumatosis in the enteric cavity and subcutaneous emphysema in the intestinal wall. Also, the intrahepatic portal branches and small branches of veins in the mesentery were filled with a high density of gas. The combination of many factors led to HPVG. Gastrointestinal mucosa and pressure accompanied with intestinal septic infection were the main factors. The case report revealed that gas in the enteric cavity went into the submucosa, then into the small branches of veins in the mesentery and finally into the intrahepatic portal vein system.

Computed examination revealed the imaging features of HPVG. Hepatic portal venous gas suggested the growth of enteric cavity pressure, the damage of intestinal mucosa and intestinal infection, providing references for clinical diagnosis.