title: A case of portal venous gas after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and obstructive pyelonephritis.
abstract: The presence of gas in the portal venous system is considered an ominous sign often mandating immediate exploratory laparotomy; however, there are numerous reports of benign incidences of this finding. This report describes a case of portal venous gas after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. The patient had the rare complication of obstructive pyleonephritis that progressed to sepsis and subsequently underwent a negative exploratory laparotomy. It is suggested that the radiographic finding of portal venous gas should be correlated with the likely cause and overall clinical picture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA. aar2107@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Abbas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sylla
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Woodland
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Feingold
mesh_terms: D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000150:complications*