Extrahepatic portal hypertension treated by anastomosing inferior mesenteric vein to left portal vein at Rex recessus

For the treatment of recurrent bleeding despite sclerotherapy or clinically significant hypersplenism, portosystemic shunt procedures should be performed in cases of extrahepatic portal hypertension caused by extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis. A novel alternative to portosystemic shunt procedures in extrahepatic portal hypertension is mesenterico-left portal bypass. Portal vein thrombosis is bypassed by an autologous vein graft (usually left internal jugular vein) interposed between superior mesenteric vein and left portal vein. In the presence of an enlarged right gastroepiploic vein, the distal end of this vein can be anastomosed to left portal vein without disturbing its proximal end. Herein, the authors report a case of extrahepatic portal hypertension treated by anastomosing enlarged inferior mesenteric vein to left portal vein to bypass portal vein thrombosis.