Hematoma de la vaina de los rectos y pancreatitis aguda en dos pacientes con aire venoso portal

Hepatic portal venous gas is a rare radiologic finding commonly caused by acute bowell ischemia. It is easily diagnosed at CT scan by the appearance of branching of radiolucency extending to within 2 cm of the liver capsule. Two cases of hepatic portal venous gas associated with diffuse intestinal necrosis are reported. A rectus sheath hematoma causing an abdominal compartment syndrome was present in the first case, whereas in the second case an acute pancreatitis associated with Aeromonas hydrophila bacteremia was observed. Both patients died shortly after admission to the Intensive Care Unit because of refractory arterial hypotension. The implications of these extremely rare observations are discussed.