HEPATIC-PORTAL VENOUS GAS IN ACUTE COLONIC DIVERTICULITIS

The diagnosis and assessment of severity of acute colonic diverticulit is may be difficult. A case is presented, in which the delayed diagnos is of diverticulitis resulted in the development of a diverticular mes ocolic abscess complicated by hepatic-portal venous gas (HPVG). The ut ility of ultrasound as a rapid, noninvasive tool to diagnose this dist inctly rare condition is outlined. The literature on HPVG associated w ith acute colonic diverticulitis is reviewed, and the therapeutic opti ons are discussed.