An inferior mesenteric-caval shunt via the internal iliac vein with portosystemic encephalopathy

We report here a case of an unusual extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt in a 37-year-old woman without liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension, who developed portal systemic encephalopathy. Angiography demonstrated an infe rior mesenteric-caval shunt characterized by the presence of direct communi cation of the inferior mesenteric vein with the left internal iliac vein. A fter the treatment with percutaneous transcatheter embolization of the shun t via a femoral vein approach using coils, she had no episode of portal sys temic encephalopathy.