Hepatic portal venous gas complicating septic thrombophlebitis of the superior mesenteric vein

TN Chau, TKL Loke, VKS Leung, ST Law, MHY Lai, YW Ho
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong

Hepatic portal venous gas is a rare radiological finding with a wide spectrum of underlying pathologies. We describe a case of hepatic portal venous gas due to septic thrombophlebitis of the superior mesenteric vein. The clinical management of portomesenteric venous gas and the importance of computed tomography in delineating its underlying causes are discussed.

Hong Kong Med J 2007;13:69-72

Key words: Hepatic veins; Mesenteric veins; Portal vein; Thrombophlebitis; Tomography, X-ray computed