Splanchnic vein thrombosis in acute pancreatitis: A single-center experience

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate outcomes of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) in hospitalized patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: This was a retrospective study (January 1996 to December 2006) via chart review. RESULTS: Over 10 years, 1.8% (45/2454) of patients with AP with a mean (SD) age of 58 (15) years were diagnosed with SVT. Splenic vein thrombosis was the most common form of SVT (30/45 patients, 67%). Seventeen patients were anticoagulated with heparin, when the SVT was diagnosed in the acute stage followed by oral anticoagulation (AC). The thrombosis that was most commonly anticoagulated was portal vein thrombosis in 11 (65%) of 17 patients. Of 17 patients in the AC group, 2 (12%) showed recanalization as compared with 3 (11%) of 28 patients in the non-AC group (P > 0.05). The mortality was 3 (7%) of 45 (2 from the AC group versus 1 in the non-AC group, P > 0.05). Two of these died of multiorgan failure, and the other, from septic shock. None of the deaths were due to bleeding complications. CONCLUSIONS: Splanchnic vein thrombosis occurred in 1.8% patients of AP. The use of AC was reasonably safe with no fatal bleeding complications. However, there was no significant difference in the recanalization rates in those with and without AC.