Research in Cardiovascular Medicine (Jan 2017)

Diagnosis and management of a pediatric portacaval shunt: An uncommon cause of cyanosis in children

  • Hojjat Mortezaeian,
  • Mohammad Rafie Khorgam,
  • Hamidreza Pouraliakbar,
  • Ali Jafarian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5812/cardiovascmed.35280
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 3
pp. 6 – 6

Abstract

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Introduction: Congenital portosystemic shunts constitute a rare disorder in childhood with a wide spectrum of symptoms and signs, one of which may be cyanosis. Case Presentation: We describe for the first time in Iran a 9-year-old boy with a portacaval shunt presenting with cyanosis. He was diagnosed, managed, and treated successfully. The postoperative period was complicated by portal vein thrombosis, which wasgradually resolved with appropriate treatment. Conclusions: Cyanosis is one of the hallmarks of cardiopulmonary disease; however, as was the case in our patient, a secondary cause of pulmonary disease should be considered. The portacaval shunt is a rare but important cause of cyanosis and should be considered in all patients in whom cyanosis is unexplained.

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