Postoperative Evaluation and Management of Portomesenteric Venous Thrombosis in Patients With IBD

A 22-year-old woman with medically refractory ulcerative pancolitis underwent laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with IPAA and diverting ileostomy. She was discharged on postoperative day 4 feeling well. Because of the lack of risk factors for venous thromboembolism (including no family history or use of oral contraceptives), she was not discharged with prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin, but she received low-molecular-weight heparin while in the hospital. The following day, she developed abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and decreased ostomy output. An abdominopelvic CT scan demonstrated a small amount of intraperitoneal free air felt to be postoperative in nature, small-bowel dilation consistent with ileus, and extensive portal and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. She was started on low-molecular-weight heparin that resulted in rapid improvement. A subsequent repeat CT scan a few days later showed decreased clot burden.