Portal Vein Thrombosis as a Complication of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Case Report

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an uncommon and potentially life-threatening complication of bariatric surgery. Three cases of PVT were diagnosed at our regional center. All cases were post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy without any intraoperative complications. All patients presented with vomiting and CT scans confirming PVT. No patients required operative management of venous mesenteric ischaemia and all were managed with anticoagulation. Two out of the three cases were found to have risk factors for venous thromboembolism. Surgeons should be aware of the vague symptomology of this rare entity and have a higher degree of suspicion in patients with risk factors of venous thrombosis.