Splenic vein thrombosis pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vindhya BellamKonda, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Splenic vein thrombosis in acute or chronic pancreatitis results from peri-venous inflammation caused by the anatomic location of the splenic vein along the entire posterior aspect of the pancreatic tail, where it lies in direct contact with the peri-pancreatic inflammatory tissue. The exact mechanism of thrombosis is likely multi factorial, including both intrinsic endothelial damage from inflammatory or neoplastic processes and extrinsic damage secondary to venous compression from fibrosis, adjacent pseudocysts or edema.

Structure

Following are important facts regarding vasculature of splenic venous system:

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

It is thought that vein thrombosis is caused by Virchow's triad which includes:[1]

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Shown below is a table depicting the elements of Virchow's triad and their modern counterparts.

Virchow's[2] Modern Notes
Phenomena of interrupted blood-flow "Stasis" or "venous stasis"[3]
Phenomena associated with irritation of the vessel and its vicinity "Endothelial injury" or "vessel wall injury"
Phenomena of blood-coagulation "Hypercoagulability"
  • When thrombosis of the splenic vein occurs, collateral vessels develop to shunt blood around the occluded splenic vein. The two most common collateral pathways use the short gastric vessels.
  • In the distal esophagus, portosystemic collaterals connect the short gastric veins into the azygous system. *Splenoportal collaterals decompress the short gastric veins through both the coronary vein into the portal vein and via the gastroepiploic arcade into the superior mesenteric vein. In either case, the hypertensive short gastric veins cause increased pressure within the submucosal veins of

the gastric fundus, resulting in varices. In contrast to generalized portal hypertension, in splenic vein thrombosis flow in the coronary vein is hepatopetal rather than hepatofugal.

  • At times, an enlarged gastroepiploic vein found at laparotomy may be the only indicator of occult splenic vein thrombosis. Isolated esophageal varices, although uncommon in SVT, can occur in cases in which the coronary vein joins the splenic vein proximal to the obstruction. This anatomic variant has been reported to occur in 17 % of the cases.

Genetics

The exact genetics of splenic vein thrombosis is not fully understood

Associated conditions

The conditions associated with splenic vein thrombosis include:

Gross pathology

Microscopic pathology

References

  1. Chawla YK, Bodh V (2015). "Portal vein thrombosis". J Clin Exp Hepatol. 5 (1): 22–40. doi:10.1016/j.jceh.2014.12.008. PMC 4415192. PMID 25941431.
  2. Agutter, Paul S. (2008). The Aetiology of Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Critical, Historical and Epistemological Survey. Berlin: Springer. p. 84. ISBN 1-4020-6649-X.
  3. Lowe GD (2003). "Virchow's triad revisited: abnormal flow". Pathophysiol. Haemost. Thromb. 33 (5–6): 455–7. doi:10.1159/000083845. PMID 15692260.
  4. "Further reflections on Virchow's triad. - Free Online Library". Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  5. Chung I, Lip GY (2003). "Virchow's triad revisited: blood constituents". Pathophysiol. Haemost. Thromb. 33 (5–6): 449–54. doi:10.1159/000083844. PMID 15692259.