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Published on: October 29, 2014
Abernethy Malformation and Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report and Literature Review
Wenrui Li1, Bin Liu1, Hai Feng1
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS), or Abernethy malformation, is rare. Both surgical and endovascular closures are effective for CEPS, but high shunt flow may require additional treatment beyond coil embolization.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS), known as Abernethy malformation (AF), is a rare splanchnic venous system anomaly.
- Current treatment strategies for CEPS, including surgical, radiological, and transplantation methods, lack comparative data.
- This study presents a unique case of AF with an unusual shunt between the inferior mesenteric vein and the right ovarian vein.
Observation:
- A literature review identified 34 AF patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding.
- Type II AF accounted for a significant majority (79%) of these GI bleeding cases.
- The case report details an atypical shunt connection involving the inferior mesenteric vein and the right ovarian vein.
Findings:
- Both surgical ligation and endovascular shunt closure demonstrate efficacy and safety in managing AF.
- Endovascular methods, particularly coil embolization, may be insufficient for complete shunt closure in cases with high shunt flow.
- The study highlights the diverse clinical presentations of AF, including rare vascular connections.
Implications:
- Surgical and endovascular approaches are viable treatments for CEPS, offering effective management options.
- Clinicians should consider the shunt flow dynamics when selecting endovascular treatment, as additional measures may be necessary.
- Further research comparing different CEPS treatment modalities is warranted to establish optimal therapeutic guidelines.
Abstract:
Background: Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS), also termed Abernethy malformation (AF) is a rare anomaly of the splanchnic venous system. Several approaches, including shunt closures through surgical or radiological interventions and liver transplantations, have been proposed, but clear comparisons among different treatment strategies are still unavailable. Purpose: We report a case in which an unusual portosystemic shunt was present between the dilated inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) to the right ovarian vein. A mini literature review of AF patients presented with gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding. Research design: Case report and literature review. Data Collection: An electronic search of PubMed was performed from inception to December 2023. Results: 34 AF patients presented with GI tract bleeding were identified published in the literature. The proportion of type II AF patients presenting with GI bleeding is greater (79%). Conclusions: We regard that both surgical ligation and endovascular closure of the shunt are effective and safe treatments for these patients, but coils embolization alone may not be sufficient to completely close the shunt when the shunt flow is high.
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