Combination of various percutaneous techniques in the treatment of pylephlebitis

Pylephlebitis: a rare complication of an intra-abdominal infection

Pylephlebitis is defined as an inflamed thrombosis of the portal vein. It is a rare complication of an intra-abdominal infection, and the diagnosis is often missed due to its nonspecific clinical presentation. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. It is important to consider this differential when a patient presents with signs of abdominal sepsis since it has a high mortality rate and is often diagnosed postmortem. Pylephlebitis can be diagnosed via abdominal ultrasound or CT demonstrating a thrombus in the portal vein, and it must be treated early and aggressively with broad-spectrum antibiotics. We are presenting a case of pylephlebitis as well as discussing the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially lethal condition.

Imaging assessment of congenital and acquired abnormalities of the portal venous system

Abnormalities of the portal venous system are a heterogeneous group of conditions that can cause substantial morbidity and mortality and may lead to complications during surgery or percutaneous interventions involving the portal venous system. High-resolution computed tomography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging permit a comprehensive, noninvasive evaluation of the portal venous system, enabling the detection of both structural and functional abnormalities. However, an understanding of the embryologic development of the normal portal venous anatomy and anatomic variants is essential to accurately interpret the imaging findings. Knowledge of the characteristic appearances of abnormalities of the portal venous system allows a more confident diagnosis, permitting timely treatment and more informed guidance of surgical procedures and percutaneous interventions, which may lead to an improved outcome.

Percutaneous Drainage of Suppurative Pylephlebitis Complicating Acute Pancreatitis

Suppurative pylephlebitis is a rare condition with a significant mortality rate, ranging from 50% to 80%. We report a case of suppurative pylephlebitis complicating acute pancreatitis treated by percutaneous drainage in a 40-year-old woman. The patient had an uneventful recovery.

Septic thrombophlebitis: diagnosis and management

Septic thrombophlebitis, as a result of invasion from adjacent nonvascular infections, includes conditions such as Lemierre syndrome (internal jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis), pylephlebitis (portal vein septic thrombophlebitis), and septic thrombophlebitis of the dural sinuses and the pelvic veins. All of these conditions are associated with a very high mortality if untreated. Appropriate antibacterial therapy dramatically improves the outcome of these infections and results in a low mortality rate, with the notable exception of septic thrombophlebitis of the dural sinuses. The endovascular nature of these infections results in secondary metastatic disease, including pneumonia, endocarditis, and arthritis due to septic embolization and/or hematogenous bacterial spread. The appropriate diagnosis and management of these infections depends on a high degree of clinical suspicion, the use of imaging studies, and early initiation of empiric antibacterial therapy. In this article, we review the diagnosis and management of septic thrombophlebitis, focusing on Lemierre syndrome, pylephlebitis, and septic thrombophlebitis of the pelvic veins.