Conservative approach to Hepatic Portal Venous Gas: A case report

Transient portal venous gas in upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A case report

Portal venous gas (PVG) or hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is the accumulation of gas in the portal vein and its branches. HPVG may be considered as a nonspecific sign of a significant abdominal disease, ranging from potentially lethal diseases to benign conditions. Computed tomography (CT) can detect both the presence of gas and the underlying pathology. I report a 60-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and a high lactate level in the blood test. Because of the unknown etiology for the elevated lactate, a CT scan of the abdomen was taken, which showed that he developed intra-and extra-hepatic portal venous gas as well as in the portomesentric-portosystemic collaterals without any signs of mesenteric ischemia. The patient was treated conservatively and the HPVG completely resolved after a few days. Overall, physicians must be aware that prognosis is related to the pathology itself and is not influenced by the presence of PVG. HPVG can be caused by several benign conditions that do not necessarily require urgent exploratory laparotomy.

A Case Report on Hepatic Portal Venous Gas (HPVG)

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas (HPVG) is the abnormal presence of gas in the portal venous system. It is associated with life-threatening conditions and is a sinister radiological sign. This case report aims to evaluate the significance of HPVG as a radiological sign. Our case involves a 49-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital following a one-day history of severe epigastric pain and haematemesis. Investigations showed extensive HPVG, gastric pneumatosis, a large retroperitoneal haematoma, and an obstructive lesion between the first and second part of the duodenum. Our patient was managed conservatively in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). A repeat Computerised Tomography (CT) scan showed successful resolution of the HPVG and gastric pneumatosis without any invasive intervention.

Gas in the Portal Vein: An Emergency or Just Hot Air?

We report the case of a 87-year-old woman admitted to our Emergency Department for mild abdominal pain associated with vomiting. An abdominal X-ray showed gas present in the portal venules of the left hepatic lobe, a finding associated with numerous surgical and medical conditions. The patient was successfully managed with conservative treatment. Isolated intrahepatic gas is a rare radiologic finding; emergency surgery should be performed only when there are signs of associated acute intestinal infarction.

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas Incidentally Associated With Bacterial Enteritis: A Case Report

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) has long been associated with catastrophic intraabdominal conditions. Advancements in ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) imaging have resulted in an increased number of incidental and clinically benign HPVG cases identified. Causes of clinically benign HPVG include viral gastroenteritis, gastritis, pancreatitis, appendicitis and diverticulitis. Our case demonstrates the first reported case of HPVG in an adolescent patient associated with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). The patient’s course was favorable, marked by a short stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) and did not require surgical intervention. With higher sensitivity of imaging modalities to diagnose both suspected and incidental cases of HPVG, clinicians will be required to consider the risks and benefits of conservative treatment or surgical intervention.

A case with hepatic portal vein gas who required delayed elective surgery

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Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is believed to be an indication for emergent surgery because it is associated with high mortality rate.

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The recent increase in the use of modern abdominal CT has resulted in the detection of HPVG in more benign conditions.

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The decision-making process whether we choose emergent surgery or conservative treatment without surgery is important for the patients with HPVG.

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The case with portal hepatic vein gas (HPVG) presented in this article required delayed elective surgery after conservative treatment.

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This case show the subtle difference comparing with the other case who were successfully treated without surgery.

Introduction

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is believed to be an indication for emergent surgery because it is associated with high mortality rate. However, the recent increase in the use of modern abdominal computed tomography (CT) has resulted in the detection of HPVG in more benign conditions. Therefore, the decision-making process whether we chose emergent surgery or conservative treatment without surgery is important for the patients with HPVG.

Case presentation

An 84-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to the sudden onset of abdominal pain and massive hepatic portal vein gas on emergent CT. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II Score was calculated as 17; slightly elevated comparing with the other cases who were successfully treated without surgery. Although the PHVG was remained at follow up CT on the next day after the onset, the symptoms were improved. We selected conservative treatment without emergent surgery and he discharged on 9^th day after the onset. However, he was suffered from right lower abdominal pain and vomiting and admitted our hospital on 23th day. He developed ischemic intestinal stenosis and underwent a surgery of partial resection of ileum.

Conclusions

The clinical finding of this case showing subtle differences from cases who were successfully treated without surgery. We hope this report will help physician’s decision-making process for HPVG.

Successful Conservative Management of Hepatic Portal Venous Gas due to Anastomosis Leakage After a Sigmoidectomy

In past decades, hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) has rarely been reported, and the mortality rate has been very high. In most cases, surgical intervention was needed. Presently, abdominal computed tomography can be conveniently used to diagnose HPVG, which has various underlying causes and benign courses. We present the case of a patient with HPVG due to anastomosis leakage after a sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis; the patient was cured with conservative management.

Pneumatosis intestinalis and hepatic portal venous gas associated with gas-forming bacterial translocation due to postoperative paralytic ileus: A case report

RATIONALE

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) and hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) are rare but potentially lethal conditions in which gas pathologically accumulates in the portal vein and intestinal wall, respectively. Proposed mechanisms include flatus escaping through an injured intestinal mucosa into the submucosa and thence into the portal venous system, or bacterial translocation (BT) of gas-forming enteric microorganisms from the gut into and through the intestinal wall to other organs. However, there has been no clear histopathological evidence to support these hypotheses.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 61-year-old man underwent sigmoidectomy for colonic adenocarcinoma. Postoperatively, he developed paralytic ileus and then had a sudden cardiopulmonary arrest.

DIAGNOSES

PI and HPVG were found at autopsy, presumably caused by the postoperative paralytic ileus and associated with BT of gas-forming organisms.

INTERVENTIONS

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful.

OUTCOMES

Postmortem imaging indicated the presence of massive PI and HPVG. At autopsy, there was marked intestinal emphysema with diffuse ischemic mucosal necrosis and severe pneumatosis in the stomach and intestine and marked gaseous dilation of the intrahepatic portal veins. Postmortem bacterial cultures revealed enteric bacteria in the peripheral blood and liver tissue.

LESSONS

Postoperative ileus leading to intestinal mucosal damage may be associated with BT of gas-forming enteric bacteria and the rapid onset of PI and HPVG with a lethal outcome.

Hepatic portal venous gas after colonoscopy: A case report and review

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Here we reported a rare case of hepatic portal venous gas with a relevant review of literature.

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Actually the mechanism of HPVG is still unknown.

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The case present in literature are few and the mortality, generally caused by complications like necrotizing enterocolitis, is still high.

Introduction

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is a rare radiological finding in which gas enters the portal venous system and it is associated in case of necrotizing colitis with a mortality of 75%. We report a case of iatrogenic HPVG with a review of literature.

Presentation of case

A 41 years old patient underwent total colectomy and ileal pouch- anal anastomosis with derivative ileostomy for a familiar adenomatous polyposis coli in June 2008. A stenosis of the pouch-anal anastomosis developed. The patient underwent several endoscopic dilations. A recurrence of the stenosis was observed. The patient underwent to several endoscopic procedure. After the last colonoscopy the patient showed a fever with abdominal pain. A CT scan showed little peri-anastomotic collections and massive hepatic portal venous gas.

Discussion

The management of HPVG varied from surgical intervention to non-operative procedure. The surgical approach it's reserved to clinically unstable patients or those with evidence of peritonitis or bowel perforation. Stable patients, like those with an HPVG consequence of an endoscopic procedure, can be treated with non- operative management.

Conclusion

Our experience confirm that hepatic portal venous gas can be related to endoscopic procedure; thus, it can be managed on the basis of patient's general clinical conditions, and in selected cases it will disappear without therapeutic interventions with a good outcome.

Posttraumatic venous gas in the liver - a case report and review of the current literature

Background

There are numerous causes of hepatic gas formation that range from serious pathologies to incidental findings, including mesenteric infarction, liver abscess, inflammatory bowel disease or minimally invasive hepatic interventions.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 50-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency room after a car accident. The clinical examination and further diagnostics revealed a craniocerebral injury with a fracture of the skull, concomitant soft tissue lesions and subarachnoidal bleeding. Furthermore, a blunt thoracic trauma with hemopneumothorax due to rib fractures was treated with a chest tube. No obvious abdominal pathology was seen. While in the operating theatre for the surgical revision of the cranial soft tissue lesions, a femoral venous catheter was inserted without any complications. A routine ultrasound of the abdomen six hours after the trauma revealed unclear hepatic gas formation. A contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen was performed, and the gas formation was found to be localized within the left hepatic vein. Afterwards, there was no specific treatment of the hepatic venous gas formation, as no alterations of liver function or liver enzymes were seen. The further course of the patient was uneventful regarding the gas formation in the liver, and another ultrasound two days later revealed no further gas in the liver.

Conclusions

The placement of a femoral venous catheter is a risk factor for gas formation in liver veins. No further treatment is needed in cases with stable liver function. To rule out serious pathologies, diagnostic findings (e.g., ultrasound, CT), clinical history and underlying diseases need to be analyzed carefully after the detection of intrahepatic gas formation. With contrast-enhanced CT, the localization of the gas and its potential causes might be detectable.

Hepatic portal venous gas associated with transcathete cardiac defibrillator implantation: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas (HPVG) is a rare pathological condition that may be caused by iatrogenic factors.

CASE REPORT

A 66-year-old Chinese male patient with HPVG underwent laparotomy for chronic bowel ischemia. Transcathete cardiac defibrillator was implanted via left subclavian vein for ventricular tachycardia.

DISCUSSION

There are many hypotheses about how gas runs through the intestine into the mesenteric portal venous system. HPVG patients can be improved through comprehensive management. Patients with mesenteric ischemia should be observed in hospital and after discharge, and need surgical intervention if chronic bowel ischemia recurs.

CONCLUSION

This case proves the usefulness of comprehensive management in treating HPVG. Prognosis of HPVG should consider the pathological changes contributing to HPVG.

Hepatic portal venous gas associated with colon cancer: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is a very rare radiological finding that occurs when gas enters the portal venous system. HGVG can be caused by various diseases, with the most common being intestinal ischemia or necrosis. While there are few reports of HPVG associated with colon cancer, we report a case of HPVG associated with advanced colon cancer.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of this patient was HPVG caused by colon cancer.

INTERVENTIONS

Left colon cancer resection, pancreatic tail resection, splenectomy, and transverse colostomy were performed.

OUTCOMES

The patient recovered well, and postoperative paraffin pathology confirmed that the resected tumor was colon cancer.

LESSONS

Abdominal computed tomography is an effective method for diagnosing and monitoring HPVG. Klebsiella pneumonia is a potential gas-producing microorganism associated with HPVG, which may be confirmed by Blood culture or drainage culture. The prognosis of HPVG is closely related to the underlying pathology. Surgery should be performed early when there are signs of intestinal ischemia, necrosis, or perforation.