Percutaneous treatment of portal vein thrombosis in a child who has undergone splenectomy.

Thrombosis of the portal venous system is a well-recognized and potentially lethal complication after open or laparoscopic splenectomy. A 7-year-old girl with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura developed a portal vein thrombosis after open splenectomy. The portal vein thrombosis was diagnosed by color Doppler sonography. A percutaneous transhepatic thromboaspiration of the acute thrombus was done on the third postoperative day. Anticoagulation was continued for 6 months. The presented patient is the youngest patient to undergo percutaneous thromboaspiration of an acute thrombus via the transhepatic route. Percutaneous thromboaspiration via the transhepatic route is an effective means of treating a portal vein thrombosis.