Surgical Repair of a Retropancreatic Portal Vein Aneurysm with Pancreatic Preservation
David O'Connor, MD, Ellen Hagopian, MD, Massimo Napolitano, MD.
Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA.
OBJECTIVES: A 38 year old woman presented with epigastric abdominal pain and was found on CT imaging of the abdomen and pelvis to have a 4.5 cm retropancreatic portal vein aneurysm. She had no history of trauma, portal hypertension, or intrinsic liver disease.
METHODS: Due to the significant size of the aneurysm and no other explanation for her abdominal pain, the patient was prepared for surgical repair of the aneurysm.
RESULTS: Via a midline laparotomy incision, the lesser sac of the abdomen was entered, and the pancreas was mobilized in a cepahlad direction to allow exposure of the retropancreatic portal vein. The portal vein aneurysm was excised and a patch repair was performed with a bovine pericardial patch. Her post-operative course was unremarkable.
CONCLUSIONS: Portal vein aneurysms are a rare entity that may cause pain or rupture. Surgical repair of a retropancreatic portal vein aneurysm may be safely performed while preserving the pancreas.
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