Portal Vein Thrombosis Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity

A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic bariatric procedures.
Introduction: Portal vein thrombosis has been documented after laparoscopic general surgery and has been uncommonly observed after laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Among bariatric operations, the sleeve gastrectomy is being performed with ever-increasing frequency. Here we report the case of a man who presented with portal vein thrombosis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Case Description: A 41-y-old man underwent an uneventful laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the treatment of morbid obesity, and presented on postoperative day 10 with nonfocal abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and leukocytosis. Computed tomography revealed portal vein thrombosis, which was found in the setting of Clostridium difficile colitis. Discussion: Portal vein thrombosis may be identified with increasing frequency as the number of laparoscopic bariatric operations continues to increase. A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose this rare, but potentially lethal, complication.