Recurrent acute portal vein thrombosis with severe abdominal infection after right hemihepatectomy in a patient with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a serious complication after hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. There have been few studies on recurrent PVT after hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 66-year-old woman who was diagnosed with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and treated with right hemihepatectomy. On the sixth day, the patient developed acute portal vein thrombosis, and emergency portal vein incision and surgical thrombectomy were performed. On the seventh day after thrombectomy, the patient developed acute portal vein thrombosis again, and portal vein thrombectomy+portal vein bridging was performed again. There was still thrombosis after the operation. The patient was then treated with superior mesenteric arteriography + indirect portal vein catheterization thrombolysis and local thrombolysis + anticoagulation and systemic anticoagulation therapy. The patient had a complicated abdominal infection. The total hospital stay was 84 days. There was no thrombosis in the portal vein at discharge. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Although the procedure was carefully performed with a preoperative plan and fine intraoperative vascular anastomosis, postoperative PVT occurred. There are many factors of portal vein thrombosis, and there are many treatment methods. CONCLUSION: PVT often develops in patients with liver cirrhosis postoperatively and after liver transplantation. Recurrent PVT after hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is a rare complication.