Korean J Intern Med.  1999 Jan;14(1):73-76.

Pylephlebitis associated with appendicitis

• Lim HE
• Cheong HJ
• Woo HJ
• Kim WJ
• Kim MJ
• Lee CH
• Park SC

Abstract

Pylephlebitis usually occurs secondary to infection in the region drained by the portal venous system. A most common antesecent focus of infection is diverticulitis and the most common blood isolate is E. coli (54%), followed by Proteus mirabilis (23%). Overall mortality is 32% and most of the patients who had died had severe sepsis prior to the initiation of antibiotic therapy. We describe a case of pylephlebitis which had appendicitis and consequent septic thrombosis of the portal vein and its branches, with dissemination of infection to the liver. The patient had recovered due to timely antibiotic treatment alone and resulted in complete resolution. Early diagnosis and treatment are basic to a favorable clinical course.

Keyword

Pylephlebitis; Appendicitis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Appendicitis/complications*
Case Report
Human
Liver Abscess/etiology
Male
Portal Vein*
Sepsis/etiology
Thrombophlebitis/etiology*