Portal vein thrombosis after reconstruction in 270 consecutive patients with portal vein resections in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery

•This study clarified the details of occurrence of portal vein hrombosis after portal vein resection and reconstruction in HPB surgery, as below.•Portal vein thrombosis was encountered in 20 of 163 of end-to-end, and 2 of 5 of patch graft groups, as compared with 0 of 46 of segmental graft group (p < 0.05, p < 0001, respectively).•The restoration of portal vein blood flow was more sufficiently achieved in the early re-operation within 3 days after surgery than in the late re-operation over 5 days after surgery (p < 0.05).

BackgroundsThis study was aimed to evaluate the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis after portal vein reconstruction.MethodsThe portal veins were repaired with venorrhaphy, end-to-end, patch graft, and segmental graft in consecutive 270 patients undergoing hepato-pancreto-biliary (HPB) surgery.ResultsPortal vein thrombosis was encountered in 20 of 163 of end-to-end, 2 of 56 of venorrhaphy, and 2 of 5 of patch graft groups, as compared with 0 of 46 of segmental graft group (p < 0.05, N.S., p < 0001, respectively). Portal vein thrombosis occurred more frequently after hepatectomy than after pancreatectomy (p < 0.0001). The restoration of portal vein blood flow was more sufficiently achieved in the early re-operation within 3 days after surgery than in the late re-operation over 5 days after surgery (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe segmental graft might have to be more preferred in the portal vein reconstruction. The revision surgery for portal vein thrombosis should be performed within 3 days after surgery.