Arterioportal hypertension: a rare complication of partial hepatectomy

Abstract

An arterioportal fistula (APF) with arterialisation of the portal-venous system is a rare cause of portal hypertension (PH) in children. The condition may be a congenital isolated fistula or occur as part of a more generalised haemangiomatous malformation. We report a case of PH secondary to an APF, which presented with bleeding gastric varices 6 years after partial hepatectomy for hepatoblastoma. The diagnosis was established by angiography and the fistula occluded by embolisation.