POSTTRAUMATIC LEFT-SIDED PORTAL HYPERTENSION MANIFESTED WITH BLEEDING FUNDAL VARICES

Splenic vein obstruction (usually due to thrombosis) induces left-sided portal hypertension and isolated fundal varices in patients with unaffected liver parenchyma and permeable portal vein. Pancreatic etiology is among the most frequent for splenic vein thrombosis. Hemorrhage from isolated fundal varices is a lifethreatening situation and an unusual endoscopic finding. Isolated splenic vein thrombosis with gastric varices is rare and represents one of the few curable syndromes inducing portal hypertension. The treatment for this situation is controversial, various options being described in the literature: endoscopic injection hemostasis, interventional radiology techniques and surgery.We herein describe the clinical case of a 50-year old patient with bleeding fundal varices, which proved to be attributable to a blunt abdominal trauma thirty six years previously, successfully managed by stapling fundectomy with splenectomy.