Surgical drainage for idiopathic suppurative pylephlebitis

Idiopathic suppurative pylephlebitis is quite rare and only a few cases have been reported. Conservative systemic administration of antibiotics and urokinase is reported to be effective. In this report, surgical drainage was performed on an 18-year-old man who complained of fever and abdominal pain. He had no past history of abdominal inflammatory disease or abdominal surgery. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed wide spread thrombosis of the portal vein. Laparotomy was performed and the occluded superior mesenteric vein was incised. Massive pus was removed. Thereafter, a drain was placed at the opened mesenteric vein. Drainage resulted in a dramatic decrease in fever. Postoperative radiographic studies of the colon, the small intestine, and other organs did not show any abnormalities. Emergency surgical drainage was performed successfully, instead of systemic administration of antibiotics and urokinase. Surgical drainage may be useful for wide spread pylephlebitis and pylethrombosis.