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Optimal Management of the Splenic Vein at the Time of Venous Resection for Pancreatic Cancer: Importance of the Inferior Mesenteric Vein

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Resection of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV)-portal vein (PV)-splenic vein (SV) confluence during pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer requires management of the SV.

Discussion

Simple SV ligation can result in sinistral portal hypertension if the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) enters the confluence and is thereby resected, or if the IMV is insufficient to drain the SV. We describe herein three patients whose clinical course confirms the importance of the IMV decompressing the SV to avoid sinistral hypertension.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Leah Pitts RT (R) (CT) and Maureen Levenhagen RT (R) for image acquisition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pancreatic Cancer Program, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Charles H. C. Pilgrim, Susan Tsai, Douglas B. Evans & Kathleen K. Christians

  2. Department of Radiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Parag Tolat, Parag Patel & William Rilling

Authors
  1. Charles H. C. Pilgrim
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  2. Susan Tsai
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  3. Parag Tolat
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  4. Parag Patel
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  5. William Rilling
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  6. Douglas B. Evans
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  7. Kathleen K. Christians
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen K. Christians.

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Pilgrim, C.H.C., Tsai, S., Tolat, P. et al. Optimal Management of the Splenic Vein at the Time of Venous Resection for Pancreatic Cancer: Importance of the Inferior Mesenteric Vein. J Gastrointest Surg 18, 917–921 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-013-2428-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-013-2428-6

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