Introduction Isolated splenic vein thrombosis (ISVT) is a well recognised complication of acute pancreatitis with incidences ranging widely but more recently in a large meta analysis reported as approximately 14% with a reported incidence of varices of 53% and a GI haemorrhage rate of 12.3%. There is however less available published data on the incidence and natural history of splanchnic vein thrombosis that occurs with severe necrotizing pancreatitis requiring percutaneous or open necrosectomy.

Our aim was to retrospectively review all patients who underwent minimal access retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MARPN) at RLUH from 1998 to 2012 to assess the incidence, natural history and complications of splanchnic vein thrombosis.

Methods Using a hospital held database we identified all patients who had undergone MARPN or open necrosectomy and had an electronic hospital record. We assessed patient characteristics the incidence of splanchnic vein thrombosis at presentation, at most recent cross sectional imaging, complications of portal hypertension including incidence of varices and variceal haemorrhage.

Results We identified 191 patients who had undergone necrosectomy. 46 cases were excluded from the final analysis as imaging reports made no comment on the portal venous system. The mean age was 56.1 years with a mean apache score of 9 on admission. Overall 31.7% (n = 46) underwent open necrosectomy and 68.3% MARPN necrosectomy. The results are outlined in Table 1.

Conclusion The incidence of splanchnic venous thrombosis in pancreatitis requiring necrosectomy is much higher than previously reported cases series assessing ISVT in patients with acute pancreatitis. The true natural history remains splanchnic venous thrombosis related to pancreatitis remains unknown, however in our case series the recanalisation rate was low. However in severe necrotizing pancreatitis portal venous complications should be actively investigated and UGI endoscopy to examine for varices should be carried out such that prophylaxis against variceal haemorrhage can be used where appropriate.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared.