Survival after ultrasonographic demonstration of portal venous gas due to mesenteric artery occlusion

Unraveling the Mystery of Hepatic Portal Vein Gas: Exploring Its Benign Nature and Surgical Implications

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is an infrequent yet potentially life-threatening condition that necessitates prompt diagnosis and effective management. This study presents the clinical scenario of an 88-year-old known diabetic patient, with chronic kidney disease (CKD), stroke, and hypertension, who was brought to the emergency department with symptoms of vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain. Upon conducting a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen, dilatation of the small bowel and pneumatosis intestinalis in the right abdomen, accompanied by the presence of air within the portal vein, were identified. Subsequently, an emergency laparotomy was performed, which revealed no evidence of ischemia, and the patient was treated with IV antibiotics. This case highlights the significance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach and timely interventions in the management of HPVG. The successful resolution of this complex case underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis, appropriate resuscitation, and surgical intervention, all of which play pivotal roles in enhancing patient outcomes.

The effect of Daikenchuto on blood flow of the superior mesenteric artery and portal vein in ELBW: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Focal intestinal perforation (FIP) is a devastating complication of premature birth, and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are at highest risk. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and portal vein (PV) blood flow velocities to investigate the association between intestinal blood flow and FIP. In addition, the herbal formula Daikenchuto (TJ-100) is expected to improve intestinal blood flow disorders; therefore, we evaluated its effect.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 15 ELBW infants from January 2020 to August 2021. Measured variables included birth weight, 5-minute Apgar score, time of oral feeding initiation, ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure (percent), diastolic and systolic blood pressure, SMA and PV blood flow velocity, and FIP onset data. Fifteen infants were divided into three groups: a non-surgery group (Group I; 6), a surgery group with FIP (Group II; 4), and a TJ-100 administration group (Group III; 5). The main outcome parameters included SMA and PV blood flow velocities with TJ-100.

RESULTS

SMA and PV blood flow differed significantly for the SMA of Group I and the SMA and PV of Group III (P < 0.01, P = 0.01, and P = 0.04, respectively). There was a correlation between SMA and PV in Group III (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

TJ-100 may increase SMA and PV blood flow and improve intestinal blood flow in ELBW infants at risk of FIP. Therefore, the effects of TJ-100 should undergo further study.

Hepatic portal vein gas detected by point of care ultrasound

Introduction

Portal venous gas is a rare finding in adults and is typically associated with underlying intestinal ischemia. Portal venous gas can be detected by a bedside point of care ultrasound (POCUS) examination in adult patients in critical care units (CCU). Findings include echogenic bubbles flowing centrifugally throughout the portal venous system.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 73-year-old female with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy and cardiorenal syndrome who was managed in the CCU. She developed vague abdominal pain and respiratory depression requiring intubation and dialysis during her course of treatment in the CCU. Her findings were consistent with portal venous gas upon POCUS, prompting computed tomography of her abdomen and surgical consultation. She was ultimately found to have nonobstructive mesenteric ischemia.

Clinical discussion

PVG is an ominous radiological sign and reflects intestinal ischemia in up to 72% of cases. Acute mesenteric ischemia of the small bowel could be due to occlusive or nonocclusive obstruction of the arterial blood supply or obstruction of venous outflow. Nonocclusive obstruction accounts for 5% to 15% of patients with acute mesenteric ischemia.

Conclusion

With the increasing use of POCUS, critical care physicians should be aware of findings consistent with portal venous gas as a bedside tool for directing the treating physician toward an ominous diagnosis in patients with shock.

•

Portal vein gas detected by point-of-care ultrasound in situations of unidentified shock indicates a high likelihood of underlying intestinal ischemia.

•

Point-of-care ultrasound plays an important role in detecting the sources of surgical emergencies.

•

Nonobstructive mesenteric ischemia can present with nonspecific symptoms in critically ill patients, leading to a delay in diagnosis.

Hepatic portal venous gas: A case report and analysis of 131 patients using PUBMED and MEDLINE database

OBJECTIVE

Hepatic portal pneumatosis has a high mortality rate, and whether surgical intervention is necessary remains controversial. This experiment retrospectively analyzed the etiology, treatment methods and prognosis of adult patients with hepatoportal pneumocele to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of this disease.

METHODS

We analyzed the clinical symptoms and post-treatment of a 43-year-old male patient with HPVG admitted to hospital. We retrieved adult non-iatrogenic HPVG cases with complete clinical data in PUBMED,  and MEDLINE and other databases were retrieved for analysis, and summarized the pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, pathogenesis and prognosis of different treatment schemes were summarized.

RESULTS

The main etiology of HPVG are intestinal ischemia (27%), severe enteritis/intestinal perforation/intestinal fistula (16%), intestinal obstruction (7%), abdominal infection (7%), gastric diseases (11%), appendicitis and its complications (5%), acute hemorrhage or necrotizing pancreatitis (5%), Crohn's disease and its complications (4%), trauma (traffic accidents, falls) (2%), diverticulitis and perforation (6%), nephrogenic diseases (4%), spontaneous pneumohepatic portal vein (2%), other reasons (4%). And after analysis, we found that the survival rate of patients treated by surgery was 40.5% and the mortality rate was 19.1%, the difference between the two was significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Etiology should be actively explored and surgical treatment is necessary.

Portal Venous Gas on Point-of-Care Ultrasound in a Case of Cecal Ischemia

BACKGROUND

Portal venous gas has mainly been studied in pediatrics and seen in cases of necrotizing enterocolitis. It is a rare finding in adults and is typically associated with underlying intestinal ischemia or other malignant intra-abdominal pathology. Portal venous gas is seen more readily on ultrasound compared to radiographs in both pediatric and adult patients. Findings include lucencies extending to the periphery of the liver, echogenic bubbles flowing centrifugally throughout the portal venous system, and bidirectional spikes interrupting the monophasic portal venous waveform on spectral analysis.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of a 36-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain. She had findings consistent with portal venous gas on point-of-care ultrasound, prompting computed tomography of her abdomen and surgical consultation. She was ultimately found to have cecal ischemia from cecal volvulus, had surgical resection and anastomosis, and was able to be discharged from the hospital following recovery. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: With the ever-increasing use of point-of-care ultrasound, emergency physicians should be aware of the findings consistent with portal venous gas as well as its implications. Emergency physicians should know portal venous gas is associated with intestinal ischemia and other malignant pathologies and should prompt more advanced imaging or surgical consultation when observed. Emergency physicians should also understand the distinctions between portal venous gas and pneumobilia found on point-of-care ultrasound, given that portal venous gas is typically a malignant finding and pneumobilia is most frequently benign.

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas

In a prospective investigation the sensitivity of conventional radiography, sonography, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and CT in the detection of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) was compared in 7 patients with different diagnoses. For the identification of HPVG sonography, CDFI and CT have a higher sensitivity than conventional radiography. CT, however, was the most suitable method to identify the underlying cause of HPVG. Patients with iatrogenic HPVG as a result of diagnostic or therapeutic intervention had a good prognosis. In contrast, in all cases with a sudden appearance of HPVG and a noniatrogenic cause, exitus ensued within 1 week.

Pathogenic mechanisms of intestinal pneumatosis and portal venous gas: should patients with these conditions be operated immediately?

We aimed to histologically observe portal venous gas (PVG)-causing intestinal pneumatosis (IP) and evaluate pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, including decisions on whether emergency surgery should be performed. Autopsy was performed in two cases of nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI). We directly histologically observed the pathogenic mechanisms of IP caused by gas-producing bacteria and IP considered to be caused by mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa. IP can be classified hypothetically into the following types according to pathogenesis: (1) infection, (2) rupture (damage) of the intestinal mucosa + increased intestinal intraluminal pressure, and (3) mixed type. In cases of IP caused by gas-producing bacteria or IP associated with intestinal wall damage extending beyond the mucosa to the deep muscular layer, emergency surgery should be considered. However, it is highly possible that patients who test negative for infection with gas-producing bacteria whose intestinal wall damage remains only in the mucosa can be conservatively treated.

Porcelain gallbladder: a benign process or concern for malignancy?

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder wall calcifications, otherwise known as porcelain gallbladder, have received considerable attention due to its perceived association with gallbladder carcinoma. While the perception of a strong correlation persists, more recent reports raise conceivable doubts.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic literature search was conducted of human studies describing gallbladder wall calcification and its association with gallbladder malignancy.

RESULTS

The 111 articles which met inclusion criteria identified 340 patients with gallbladder wall calcification. Of the 340 patients, 72 (21 %) were diagnosed with malignancy of the gallbladder. When examining a subgroup of 13 studies (n = 124) without obvious selection bias, the rate of gallbladder malignancy was only 6 % (0-33 %) compared to 1 % (0-4 %) in a matched cohort of patients without gallbladder wall calcification (p = 0.036, relative risk 8.0 (95%CI 1.0-63.0)). Multivariate analysis identified the presence of symptoms typical for gallbladder cancer (odds ratio 83.6, 95%CI 2.3-2979.1, p = 0.015) and the presence of a gallbladder mass (odds ratio 3226.6, 95%CI 17.2-603884.8, p = 0.003) as the only independent prognostic factors for harboring gallbladder malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of harboring gallbladder cancer in patients with gallbladder wall calcifications is lower than recently anticipated. The risk factors identified have only limited clinical value, since they are stigmatic for advanced gallbladder cancer. In the absence of better risk stratification and in the presence of a relative low rate of associated malignancy, prophylactic cholecystectomy appears appropriate for otherwise healthy patients; whereas a non-operative approach should be considered in patients with significant co-morbidity.

Pneumatosis intestinalis and hepatic portal venous gas

We report two cases of pneumatosis intestinalis and hepatic portal venous gas. The first case was in a 67-year-old woman who complained of strong right lower abdominal pain and high fever on the twelfth day after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with portal vein (PV) resection. Abdominal X-ray and computed tomography showed hepatic portal venous gas and pneumatosis intestinalis. The emergency laparotomy performed disclosed extensive necrosis of the bowel from the jejunum to the ascending colon. All necrotic parts of the bowel were resected and a jejunostomy was performed. The residual intact small intestine was 30 cm in length. Her postoperative course was stable. This is a rare complication after PD and cannot be cured by any other treatment but surgery. The second case was in a 45-year-old woman with the chief complaint of abdominal pain and constipation. She had a past history of chronic toluene inhalation. Abdominal X-ray and computed tomography also showed hepatic portal venous gas and pneumatosis intestinalis, as well as free air, but no physical examination or laboratory test results supported a diagnosis of bowel necrosis. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy effectively controlled the symptoms and signs.

Hepatic portal venous gas in ultrasonogram--benign or noxious

The purpose of this study was to investigate and differentiate the characteristics of benign hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and noxious HPVG on sonographic images. This study included seven patients (age 65 to 89 y; mean 75 y) with sonograms and computed tomography (CT) images performed within 4-h interval. The sonographic findings of HPVG could be categorized into three patterns: (1) dot-like pattern in two patients; (2) streak-like pattern in three patients; and (3) fruit-pulp-like pattern in two. In the cases of dot-like pattern, it is of a benign transient situation; this phenomenon may be only demonstrated on sonograms but not necessarily on CT. The prognosis is more favorable and any subsequent CT may not be required. In the cases of streak-like or fruit-pulp-like patterns without localized liver lesions (e.g., abscess), it usually indicates a noxious scenario with worse clinical sequelae. We concluded that the identification of sonographic patterns of HPVG might be important to predict patient's outcome.

Hepatic portal venous gas associated with poor outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of sonographic hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and to clarify the relationship between the presence of HPVG and clinical outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

METHODS

From April 2002 to January 2003, patients with non-traumatic OHCA were prospectively enrolled in a tertiary medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan. Emergency abdominal sonography during resuscitation was performed to detect the presence of HPVG within the first 10 min on arrival of the emergency department (ED).

RESULTS

HPVG was detected in 16 (36%) of the 44 patients enrolled in this study. The patients with HPVG were older (P = 0.039), their cardiac arrest was witnessed less frequently (P = 0.01), they received more prolonged resuscitation (P = 0.008), and needed more accumulated doses of adrenaline (epinephrine) (P = 0.002). These patients had a considerably lower incidence of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (P < 0.001), less survival to hospital admission (P < 0.001), less 24 h survival (P < 0.001) and less survival to discharge (P = 0.036). In a multiple regression analysis, HPVG was noted as an independent factor negatively associated with ROSC.

CONCLUSION

HPVG is not uncommon in patients receiving resuscitation for OHCA and is associated with poor outcome in these patients.

Necrotizing enteritis with hepatic portal venous gas and pneumatosis intestinalis: report of a case

A 73-year-old woman visited our hospital because of increasing abdominal distension and lower abdominal pain. On abdominal computed tomography (CT), hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and pneumatosis intestinalis of the small intestine were found. HPVG caused by intestinal necrosis was diagnosed, and an emergency laparotomy was thus performed. Necrosis of the small intestine over a 40-cm area from the ileocaecal region toward the mouth was found, and the lesion was resected. Histopathologically, haemorrhagic necrotic enteritis was diagnosed. The patient is alive as of the seventieth day after operation. The prognosis of intestinal necrosis accompanied by HPVG and pneumatosis intestinalis is poor. The presence of HPVG suggests the occurrence of a serious lesion in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, appropriate treatment should be performed immediately.

Early recognition of hepatic portal vein gas on CT with appropriate surgical intervention improves patient survival

Historically, hepatic portal vein gas has been linked with a dismal prognosis. However, in the last 3 decades, identification of hepatic portal vein gas has undergone a transition from late recognition on roentgenograms to earlier identification on computed tomography scan. The 5 patients in this case series were found to harbor hepatic portal vein gas identified using computed tomography scan. Eighty percent of the patients had concomitant pathology identified by computed tomography, felt to be the cause of the hepatic portal vein gas. All patients were taken to the operating room for exploration and resection of the offending pathology. All 5 patients survived. We suggest that early recognition using computed tomography scan, with appropriate operative intervention, improves the chance for patient survival when hepatic portal vein gas is identified.

Mesenteric ischaemia: a multidisciplinary approach

Mesenteric ischaemia may result from a wide range of pathological processes, each possessing unique clinical features, diagnostic difficulties, management strategies and outcome. Regardless of aetiology, prognosis depends crucially on rapid diagnosis and institution of treatment to prevent, or at least to minimize, bowel infarction. Progress in understanding the pathophysiology of mesenteric ischaemia has led to novel methods of treatment, so that in some circumstances therapy may be purely medical. More often surgery is required and is frequently life saving. Percutaneous transcatheter techniques are increasingly employed in both diagnosis and treatment. Close cooperation between radiologists, physicians and surgeons is therefore necessary if clinical outcome is to be optimized. This paper reviews the modern interdisciplinary management of mesenteric ischaemia in the light of recent advances.