Spontaneous porto‐femoral shunting in long‐standing portal hypertension

Abstract

Abstract Spontaneous portosystemic shunting is a compensation mechanism that is supposed to relieve the portal circulation from high pressures. Here we report an unusual shunt that originates from a patent paraumbilical vein and reaches the femoral vein via the inferior epigastric vein. Despite being merely anecdotal, this finding is fascinating from an anatomical point of view.

Keywords

• liver cirrhosis
• paraumbilical vein
• portal hypertension
• spontaneous portosystemic shunt