Hepatic Portal Venous Gas in a COPD Patient

Although hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is usually associated with a grave prognosis, favorable outcomes have been reported in some conditions. A rare case demonstrates the transient occurrence of HPVG in a patient with aerophagia when chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurred, and disappearance after symptoms resolved. The patient's recovery was uneventful and he did not suffer from any abdominal catastrophe. These findings may support the mechanical theory for the occurrence of benign HPVG.