Abnormal location of the portal vein as a cause of duodenal obstruction in adults

Abstract

The preduodenal portal vein, being an extremely rare anomaly that occurs with a frequency of 3:1000, is clinically manifested mainly in childhood by signs of intestinal obstruction due to duodenal compression. In adults, this anomaly is asymptomatic, but has surgical importance, increasing the risk of damage to the preduodenal vein during operations on the biliary tract and duodenum. The preduodenal portal vein is usually associated with other intestinal obstruction, such as external (annular pancreas, malrotation), internal (atresia, membrane and stenosis), as well as with cardiovascular abnormalities, reverse location. Recently, we treated a patient with a preduodenal portal vein, which stimulated a revision of the disease process including diagnosis, association with other anomalies and surgical treatment.

Keywords

• preduodenal portal vein
• chronic duodenal obstruction
• annular pancreas
• gastroduodenal anastomosis