Portal hypertension secondary to a spontaneous splenic arteriovenous fistula: case report and review of the literature.

A 66-yr-old woman developed diarrhea, abdominal pain, and ascites which was subsequently discovered to be secondary to portal hypertension resulting from a splenic arteriovenous fistula. Splenectomy resulted in reduction of the portal pressure and resolution of the patient's symptoms. The literature pertaining to splenic arteriovenous fistulas with portal hypertension is discussed.