A Case of Portal Vein Stenting for Portal Vein Stenosis after Pancreatoduodenectomy

Yoshihiro Yasuda, Fumiaki Kato, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Takashi Ogata, Makoto Takagi, Tetsuo Sumi, Toshiaki Aoki, Tooru Saguchi*, Akihiko Tsuchida** and Tatsuya Aoki**

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery and Department of Radiology*,
Hachiouji Medical Center of Tokyo Medical University
Third Department of Surgery, Tokyo medical University**

The patient was a 67-year-old woman who underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (pancreatogastrostomy) in April 2005 for cancer of the head of the pancreas, and the pancreatic duct tube was removed on postoperative day 27. Melena was first noted on the same day, and bleeding from the site where the pancreatic duct tube had been removed was suspected based on the upper gastorointestinal endoscopy findings. Abdominal CT was performed because the melena persisted, and portal vein stenosis was noted. Its relation to the melena was unknown, but a stent was placed in the portal vein to prevent liver failure and gastrointestinal bleeding as a result of the formation of varices. Abdominal CT 4 months after stenting showed no evidence of thrombosis or restenosis, and Doppler ultrasound of the abdomen at 6 months showed good blood flow in the portal vein. It has been 8 months since stenting, and there have been no signs of hepatic failure or portal hypertension.

Key words
pancreatoduodenectomy, portal vein stenosis, portal vein stent

Reprint requests
Yoshihiro Yasuda Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hachiouji Medical Center of Tokyo Medical University
1163 Tatemachi, Hachiouji, 193-0998 JAPAN

Accepted
April 26, 2006

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.