Portal system thrombosis in puerperium: A case report and literature review

SummaryBackgroundThe general features of the portal system thrombosis (PST) in puerperium are not known. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of PST, including the portal, superior mesenteric and splenic veins in puerperium.MethodsA case with PST in puerperium is reported and nine cases with PST in puerperium reported in the literatures are discussed. An analysis was carried out on these 10 cases.ResultsThe mean age of the 10 cases that were analyzed was 31.6 years (range: 22–39 years). Five patients were over 35 years of age. The mean onset time of PST in puerperium was 10.3 days (5–17 days) after the delivery or cesarean. Two or three veins were occupied by the thromboses simultaneously in six cases. All patients were presented with abdominal pain. Among 10 cases, there were two deaths, which were complicated with intestinal infarction and were reported before the 1970s.ConclusionsPST in puerperium usually happens in women of advanced maternal age within 3 weeks after the delivery or cesarean. The scope of thrombosis was extensive. The main symptom was abdominal pain. The mortality rate of PST in puerperium is not higher than that of the general PST cases.