Abstract

SANGALLI CHUIMA, Johnny  and  MOROCHI LIMA, Wilson. PYLEPHLEBITIS ASSOCIATE TO ACUTE APPENDICITIS. Rev. Méd. La Paz [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.2, pp.37-41. ISSN 1726-8958.

Pylephlebitis, septic thrombosis of the portal vein and its branches, is an infrequent complication of intraabdominal inflammatory processes which may lead to thrombosis of the portal vein and to liver abscesses. Thrombosis of the portal vein can occur either ouside of the liver (extrahepatic) or within the liver (intrahepatic). Extrahepatic causes include occlusion by enlargement of hilar lymph nodes, inflammation of the portal vein due to ascending pylephlebitis secondary to infection in the appendix or colon, splenic vein thrombosis secondary to pancreatitis or secondary to surgical procedures on the abdomen. Intrahepatic causes are cirrhosis ofthe liver or invasion of the portal vein by primary or secondary carcinomas of the liver. Pylephlebitis used to be a dreaded complication of appendicitis, but the incidence of this disease has greatly declined since the development of antibiotics and modern surgical techniques. We report a 40 years old male who presented fever and pain in the abdomen. An abdominal ecography scan showed the presence of an acute appendicitis and a mesenteric vein thrombosis. The patient was operated untipical apendicectomy and received antimicrobials, with a good evolution. It is important an early suspicion and accurate treatment for this complication.

Keywords : Pylephlebitis; acute appendicitis; superior mesenteric vein; venous thrombosis.