Portal venous system injuries

Traumatic injuries of the portal venous circulation occur infrequently but often pose management problems. During the past 13 years, 94 patients have been treated at the Ben Taub General Hospital for traumatic injury to the portal venous system, including 37 portal, 45 superior mesenteric, seven splenic, and nine inferior mesenteric venous injuries. Injury resulted from penetrating wounds in all but 17 patients. Associated vascular injuries were present in 80 patients. Twenty-six patients died from failure to control hemorrhage. Six deaths resulted from postoperative complications. Operative approach necessitated lateral venorrhaphy in 66 patients, ligation in 23, end-to-end anastomosis in one, saphenous vein mesocaval shunt in two, end-to-side portacaval shunt in one, and clamping and packing in five. In spite of numerous associated vascular and visceral injuries, portal venous injuries can be successfully managed utilizing generally available vascular reconstructive techniques.