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Hepatic emboli following inferior vena caval ligation. Brief report
Radiology
|July 1, 1977
Insights
Inferior vena cava ligation can lead to a rare complication: an abnormal connection between leg veins and the portal vein. This study identified this unusual collateral pathway and hepatic emboli after ligation.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Radiology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) ligation is a surgical procedure to prevent pulmonary embolism.
- Complications of IVC ligation can include deep vein thrombosis and altered venous drainage.
- Long-term sequelae of IVC ligation are not fully understood.
Observation:
- Radionuclide venography was performed using 99mTc MAA and 99mTc DTPA via foot vein injection.
- The study involved a 34-year-old male patient one year post-IVC ligation.
- Imaging revealed an unexpected collateral pathway and hepatic emboli.
Findings:
- A newly recognized collateral pathway connecting lower extremity veins to the portal vein was identified.
- Evidence of multiple hepatic emboli was observed in the liver.
- These findings represent a potential sequela of inferior vena cava ligation.
Implications:
- This case highlights a previously undocumented complication of IVC ligation.
- Understanding these collateral pathways is crucial for managing patients post-IVC ligation.
- Further research is needed to determine the incidence and clinical significance of this finding.
Abstract:
Radionuclide venography performed by foot vein injection of 99mTc MAA and 99mTc DTPA in a 34-year-old man approximately one year after inferior vena caval ligation demonstrated an unusual collateral pathway between the veins of the lower extremities and the portal vein, and also evidence for multiple hepatic emboli. This is a newly recognized sequela of inferior vena caval ligation.