What is splanchnic vein thrombosis?
Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is an unusual manifestation of venous thromboembolism which involves one or more abdominal veins (portal, splenic, mesenteric and supra-hepatic veins).
What are the symptoms of splanchnic vein thrombosis?
The most common symptom is abdominal pain, reported in approximately half of SVT patients, followed by gastrointestinal bleeding and ascites. Other nonspecific symptoms are nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea or constipation, and fever.
What causes splanchnic vein thrombosis?
The leading cause of splanchnic vein thrombosis is myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), which are diagnosed in half of BCS patients and one-third of EHPVO patients.
How is splanchnic thrombosis diagnosed?
Computed tomography (CT) is the diagnostic method of choice in splanchnic vein thrombosis. In cases of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, the first study to perform is typically a Doppler ultrasound. Doppler ultrasound is less costly and more comfortable to achieve than CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How is splenic vein thrombosis treated?
Splenectomy is the first line treatment in variceal bleeding with splenic artery embolization and percutaneous recanalization available as options for non-surgical candidates.
How is portal vein thrombosis treated?
Most patients with PVT are treated with immediate anticoagulation therapy. [1,4] This is most often performed through continuous intravenous heparin infusion, but some authors report using low-molecular-weight heparin. Chronic treatment options include warfarin or low-molecular-weight heparin.
How serious is splenic vein thrombosis?
Depending on the site of thrombosis, patients are at risk of developing liver insufficiency, portal hypertension, or bowel infarction and may experience recurrence in both the splanchnic veins and other vein segments.
How is splenic vein thrombosis diagnosed?
A normal splenic vein doppler will make the diagnosis of splenic vein thrombosis highly improbable. Doppler ultrasound diagnoses hepatic venous thrombosis, and a CT scan of the abdomen or MRI will confirm it.
Is splenic vein thrombosis life threatening?
Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is frequent in patients with liver cirrhosis and possible severe complications such as mesenteric ischemia are rare, but can be life-threatening.
When do you treat splenic vein thrombosis?
For both patients with acute and patients with chronic PVT, treatment is recommended for at least 3 months, with an indefinite duration for patients with permanent risk factors or with extension to the mesenteric veins. Indefinite duration treatment is recommended for all patients with BCS.
What is the treatment for blood clot in spleen?
There is no specific treatment, except treating the underlying disorder and providing adequate pain relief. Surgical removal of the spleen (splenectomy) is only required if complications ensue; surgical removal predisposes to overwhelming post-splenectomy infections.
What is the treatment of portal vein thrombosis?
TREATMENT OF PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS Most patients with PVT are treated with immediate anticoagulation therapy. [1,4] This is most often performed through continuous intravenous heparin infusion, but some authors report using low-molecular-weight heparin.