Portal Biliopathy Causing Recurrent Biliary Obstruction and Hemobilia

A 63-year-old man with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis presented with biliary obstruction and hemobilia after a liver biopsy. Balloon sweep of the common bile duct removed clotted blood, and cholangiogram showed a common bile duct narrowing, treated with biliary stenting. A percutaneous biliary catheter was later required for recurrent biliary obstruction and hemobilia, and repeat cholangiogram confirmed portal biliopathy—a large peri-biliary varix was compressing the common bile duct, causing biliary obstruction and intermittent portal hypertensive hemobilia. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was inserted, followed by embolization of the peri-biliary varix. Delayed diagnosis of portal biliopathy may lead to significant patient morbidity.