Article Text
Summary
Hepatic portal venous gas is the presence of gas within the portal vein and its branches. A 4-week-old male infant presented with 1-week history of non-bloody, non-bilious projectile emesis. Examination was significant for an olive-shaped mass in the abdomen. Bloodwork showed hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis. Abdominal ultrasound and radiograph was significant for portal venous gas and did not meet radiographic criteria for pyloric stenosis. He underwent upper endoscopy, which showed a narrowed, hypertrophic pylorus. The child underwent pyloromyotomy with resolution of his emesis. Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is very rare and can be seen in the setting of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. It is believed that an increase in intraluminal dilation and pressure subsequently moves gas from the intestinal mucosa venous system and lymphatics into the portal veins. The presence of HPVG in a well-appearing patient can be benign and should not prompt further testing nor delay treatment.
- gastrointestinal system
- surgery
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Footnotes
Contributors SD: planned, designed, gathered data and wrote the case report, final approval of the version to be published. DF: helped with planning and writing the case report, final approval of the version to be published. MT: encouraged the idea, provided critical feedback for revision, final approval of the version to be published. AC: provided important feedback, supervised all activities related to the case, final approval of the version to be published. Will act as guarantor for the paper.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Parental/guardian consent obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.