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Case Reports
. 2024 Sep 11;2024(9):rjae580.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjae580. eCollection 2024 Sep.

A rare case of superior mesenteric venous and portal vein thrombosis in complicated appendicitis

John Paul Bustamante  1 , Claire Caplan  1 , Joanna Sajdlowska  1 , Zamaan Hooda  1 , Melissa Warta  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare case of superior mesenteric venous and portal vein thrombosis in complicated appendicitis

John Paul Bustamante et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

Superior mesenteric venous (SMV) thrombosis is a rare complication of severe appendicitis. Early recognition is due to improved imaging modalities, which ultimately lead to more prompt intervention. Despite being an uncommon phenomenon, SMV thrombosis can have complications stemming from venous hypertension, such as gastric and esophageal varices, bowel ischemia, sepsis, and death. As this is a rare phenomenon, specific treatment guidelines and algorithms are lacking in the current literature. This case report describes a 23-year-old male patient whose recovery from a laparoscopic appendectomy was complicated with both an SMV and portal vein thrombosis.

Keywords: acute appendicitis; portal vein thrombosis; superior mesenteric vein thrombosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT of abdomen and pelvis showing a thrombus within the superior mesenteric vein, identified with a red (or horizontal) arrow. Some linear foci which may be branching of hypoattenuation in segment 8 of the liver which possibly related to distal branches of the right portal vein and could represent early portal vein thrombosis. The green (or vertical) arrow identifies colonic edema at the hepatic flexure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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