Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare complication of pancreatitis and can cause portal hypertension and oesophageal varices. Variceal rupture carries a high mortality. We report a case of successful pregnancy complicated by two episodes of massive variceal bleeding in a woman with PVT, and discuss how this might have been prevented.
ZardiEM, UwechieV, CaccavoD, Portosystemic chunts in a large cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis: detection rate and clinical relevance. J Gastroenterol2009;44:76–83
2.
HuntJB, AppleyardM, ThurszM, CareyPD, GuillouPJ, ThomasHC. Intraperitoneal haemorrhage from anterior abdominal wall varices. Postgrad Med J1993;69:490–93
3.
TefferiA. Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. N Engl J Med2000;342:1255–65
4.
ShararaAI, RockeyDC. Gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage. N Engl J Med2001;345:669–81
5.
AggarwalN, SawnheyH, SurilV, VasishtaK, JhaM, DhimanRK. Pregnancy and cirrhosis of the liver. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol1999;39:503–6
6.
ChaichainS, MehdizadehA, AkbarianA, GroohiB, KhanahmadiN, AlaghehbandanR. Rupture of splenic artery aneurysm with portal hypertension during pregnancy: a case report. J Obstet Gynaecol Can2006;28:303–4
7.
RosenfeldH, Hochner-CelnikierD, AckermanZ. Massive bleeding from ectopic varices in the postpartum period: rare but serious complication in women with portal hypertension. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol2009;21:1086–91
8.
NasstromB, StegmayrB, GuptaJ, OlivecronaG, OlivecronaT. A single bolus of a low molecular weight heparin to patients on haemodialysis depletes lipoprotein lipase stores and retards triglyceride clearing. Nephrol Dial Transplant2005;20:1172–9
9.
YaparEG, BilgeU, DumanliH, VuralT, GokmenO. Portal vein thrombosis concomitant with thrombophilia during pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol1996;68:213–7
10.
Lopez-MendezE, Avila-EscobedoL. Pregnancy and portal hypertension: a pathology view of physiologic changes. Ann Hepatol2006;5:219–23
11.
CMACE. Saving Mothers' Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer: 2006–2008. The eighth report of the confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in the United Kingdom. BJOG2011;118(s1):1–203