Disappearing portal venous gas in acute pancreatitis and small bowel ischemia

Abstract

We report an usual case of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) in the setting of acute pancreatitis and small bowel ischemia. Interestingly, the HPVG disappeared within 2 hours of the original computed tomography scan, despite the patient having small bowel ischemia. The patient had a complicated clinical course, dying 62 days postadmission. This case highlights that HPVG in setting of acute pancreatitis and small bowel ischemia has a very high morbidity and mortality, requiring early detection and aggressive surgical management.

Keywords

• Portal venous gas
• Ischemic bowel
• Acute pancreatitis
• Surgical management
• Small bowel ischemia
• Hepatoportal venous gas