Treatment of Superior Mesenteric and Portal Vein Thrombosis with Direct Thrombolytic Infusion via an Operatively Placed Mesenteric Catheter

Acute superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and portal vein (PV) thrombosis can be a complication of hypercoagulable, inflammatory, or infectious states. It can also occur as a complication of medical or surgical intervention. Management of mesenteric and portal vein thrombosis includes both operative and nonoperative approaches. Operative interventions include thrombectomy with thrombolysis; this is often employed for patients who present with signs of peritoneal irritation. Nonoperative approaches can be either noninvasive or invasive. Treatment with anticoagulation has been shown to be efficacious, though its rate of recanalization is not as high as with intravascular infusion of thrombolytics. Intravenous catheterization and thrombolytic infusion has the advantage of direct pharmacologic thrombolysis of clot, with decreased infusion required and the possibility to carry out dilation or thrombectomy concurrently. We report the use of recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) infusion via an operatively placed multi side-hole catheter/5-Fr introducer sheath into the right portal and superior mesenteric vein clot, inserted through a small jejunal vein, in a patient who presented with acute gangrenous appendicitis and thrombosis of the main portal trunk and superior mesenteric vein. A temporary abdominal closure was maintained until 36 hours after the start of infusion of the rt-PA. At this time venous system had normal flow, with complete recanalization of the right portal and superior mesenteric veins.