[Air in the portal vein and necrosis of the ventricle].
BACKGROUND
Air in the portal vein is a serious sign, usually caused by enteric necrosis.


METHODS
The case report presents a 69-year-old male who died shortly after arrival in our department.


RESULTS
Abdominal CT scan showed hepatic portal venous gas, and thrombi in the superior mesenteric artery, the coeliac trunk and in the left iliac artery. Autopsy revealed a necrotic stomach but viable small bowel.


CONCLUSIONS
Differential diagnoses are discussed, and we conclude that the patient most probably died from ischaemic necrosis. In severely ill patients, hepatic portal venous gas is an indication for urgent laparotomy.
Lassen
K
K
Avdeling for gastroenterologisk kirurgi, Regionsykehuset i Tromsø 9037 Tromsø. lassen@rito.no
Jacobsen
E
E
Busund
L T
LT
Kjaeve
J
J
D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004630:Emergencies; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed