Portal Venous Gas

gas within the portal veins or mesenteric veins that result from ischemic bowel disease is typically

fatal

portal venous gas may also be associated with

diverticulitis, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstructions, ulcers within the bowel, gastrointestinal cancer, and invasive procedures that involve stent placement or endoscopic analysis of the bowel

the sonographic findings of portal venous gas are consistent with

evidence of small, bright reflectors noted within the circulating blood inside the portal vein

larger air collections may produce

ring-down artifiact

pneumobilia

air located within the biliary ducts

clinical findings of portal venous gas

recent bout of diverticulitis, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, ulcers within the bowel, gastrointestinal cancer, and invasive procedures that involve stent placement or endoscopic analysis of the bowel

sonographic findings of portal venous gas

1. small bright reflectors noted within circulating blood inside the portal vein

2. larger air collections may produce ring-down artifact

sagittal, color doppler image of the main portal vein reveals portal vein thrombosis and the development of collateral vessels diverting blood around the clot

cavernous transformation of the portal vein. transverse image through the porta hepatis demonstrates multiple, small collateral vessels in the area of the portal vein