THROMBOSIS OF THE PORTAL-VEIN FOLLOWING SPLENECTOMY FOR MYELOID METAPLASIA

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 152  (4) , 488-492
Abstract
The records of 28 patients undergoing splenectomy for myeloid metaplasia were reviewed. Portal and mesenteric venous thrombosis was proved or suspected in 5 patients. The time interval between splenectomy and portal and mesenteric venous thrombosis varied from 6 days to 3 yr. The incidental postmortem finding of portal vein thrombosis in 1 patient suggests that the incidence may be greater than clinically appreciated and may, at times, be asymptomatic. Postsplenectomy thrombocytosis was not a significant risk factor, occurring in only 1 of 5 patients in whom portal vein thrombosis developed. Recommendations for prevention include ligation of the splenic vein close to its junction with the inferior mesenteric vein at the time of splenectomy. Prophylactic anticoagulation therapy or the use of antiplatelet drug therapy postoperatively, or both, should be considered.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: