title: Successful laparoscopic division of a patent ductus venosus: report of a case.
abstract: Patent ductus venosus (PDV) is a rare condition of a congenital portosystemic shunt from the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava. This report presents the case of an adult patient with PDV, who was successfully treated with laparoscopic shunt division. A 69-year-old male was referred with hepatic encephalopathy. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a large connection between the left portal vein and the inferior vena cava, which was diagnosed as PDV. The safety of a shunt disconnection was confirmed using a temporary balloon occlusion test for the shunt, and the shunt division was performed laparoscopically. The shunt was carefully separated from the liver parenchyma with relative ease, and then divided using a vascular stapler. Portal flow was markedly increased after the operation, and the liver function of the patient improved over the 3-month period after surgery. Although careful interventional evaluation for portal flow is absolutely imperative prior to surgery, a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach can be safely used for treating PDV.
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. yhara02@attglobal.net
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oya
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hidenaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kokai
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatakeyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*