Maternal Death Due to Mesenteric Infarction Following Portal Vein Thrombosis in Pregnancy: A case report

Excerpt

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare complication in pregnancy which may be associated with several secondary causes such as primary myeloproliferative disorders, inherited thrombophilias, abdominal infections and liver cirrhosis [1]. It is believed that the hypercoagulable state in pregnancy is itself a risk factor. Most pregnancies with PVT have had a favourable outcome with anticoagulative therapy, although some have developed HELLP syndrome and recurrent thromboembolic phenomena. Although potentially fatal complications such as variceal bleeding or occlusion of superior mesenteric, splenic or hepatic veins are also common, maternal deaths following PVT have not been reported. This case report discusses issues related to the diagnosis and management of a pregnancy where complications following PVT resulted in a fatality. …