A Case of Hepatic Portal Venous Gas Caused by Clostridium perfringens in a Patient with Mesenteric Atriovenous Malformation and Portal Hypertension

ABSTRACT

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is a rare disease presenting as acute abdomen. The presence of the air in the portal vein has been associated with a mortality rate of more than 75%. Because of high mortality rate, most HPVG requires emergent surgical interventions and intensive medical management. HPVG is most commonly caused by mesenteric ischemia but may have a variety other causes. Clostridium perfringens is the most common pathogen of gas forming bacteria that can cause of HPVG, but Clostridium perfringens blood stream infection with HPVG is not yet reported in Korea. We experienced a case of HPVG caused by Clostridium perfringens blood stream infection at mesenteric venous hemangioma with portal hypertension due to mesenteric arteriovenous malformation.