title: Portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic splenectomy for beta-thalassemia: a case study.
abstract: Portal vein thrombosis is a rare but well-recognized complication of splenectomy. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with transfusion-dependent b-thalassemia who underwent a laparoscopic splenectomy to reduce her transfusion requirements. Postoperatively, she developed portal vein thrombosis, diagnosed by abdominal CT scanning on postoperative day 4. After being treated with anticoagulation and antibiotic therapy, she obtained prompt resolution of her symptoms. This report summarizes the first reported incidence of portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic splenectomy and presents the current theories regarding the etiology and treatment of postsplenectomy portal vein thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, 530 First Avenue, Suite 6C New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sok
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants