Porto-mesenteric vein thrombosis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. A case report

İNTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Porta-mesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT) is a rare but fatal complication in patients who are undergoing bariatric surgery. In this report, we present a rare case of a PMVT after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

A 52-year-old male patient with a body mass index of 42 kg/m² was admitted to our clinic for morbid obesity. Standart LSG was performed with 5 trocar technique. 15 days after LSG, the patient admitted to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The patient was dehydrated. His C-reactive protein level was 138 mg/L. Abdominal computerized tomography with contrast was performed and showed thickening of a part of small bowel wall in 10 cm length. Also, major trombosis were detected in the superior mesenteric vein branches and portal vein. The patient was hospitalized and 2 × 10,000 IU/1.0 mL high dosage low moleculer weight heparin (LMWH) therapy was initiated. The patient's clinical signs recovered rapidly following treatment.

İn LSG, if the gastroepiploic venous arcus, which runs along the greater curvatura, and has a direct connection to the portal circulation is damaged, a local thrombus may form and move towards the portal system over time. Dehydration is another significant predisposing factor for PMVT. Some patients may develop life-threatening intestinal ischemia. Abdominal tomography with contrast plays a major role in diagnosis.

PMVT should be considered as a serious complication after LSG in patients with abdominal pain. With early diagnosis and anticoagulant therapy, patients's clinical symptoms may improve quicly.