Management of acute extensive portal vein thrombosis: the complexity and morbidity

A 62-year-old patient was admitted with an acute unprovoked portal vein thrombosis with splenic and mesenteric extension. His progress was complicated by progressive small bowel ischaemia and increasing clot burden despite systemic anticoagulation. This case report describes the use of catheter-directed thrombolysis via a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, with the disease and its treatment complicated by a ruptured iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm, abdominal compartment syndrome and small bowel infarction necessitating extensive small bowel resection.