Catheterization of the mesenteric artery to treat portal vein thrombosis

Abstract

Portal vein thrombosis is a rare vascular cause of acute abdomen and it is directly related to hereditary or acquired thrombophilias. This article presents the case of a 60-year-old male patient, with clinical signs of mesenteric ischemia that was confirmed by imaging examination. He underwent enterectomy and enteroanastomosis and, after detection of portal vein thrombosis by splenoportography, he was prescribed drug-based treatment with continuous infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase) via selective catheterization of the superior mesenteric artery. This is a treatment innovation. The portal system was successfully recanalized. However, the patient developed abdominal sepsis and required intensive care for 25 days. His clinical status improved and he was discharged with a prescription for oral anticoagulant. This article presents a brief review of the literature and a discussion of portal vein thrombosis.

Keywords:
portal vein; thrombosis; thrombophilia; mesenteric ischemia; acute abdomen