Hepatic portal venous gas: report of a case.

Hepatic portal venous gas is easily diagnosed radiographically by the appearance of tubular lucencies branching horizontally from the porta hepatis and extending to within 2cm of the liver capsule. Associated conditions vary from benign to potentially lethal diseases which require emergency operations. A case of hepatic portal venous gas secondary to small bowel obstruction is presented and a review of the literature is also provided.