Management of suppurative pylephlebitis by percutaneous drainage: placing a drainage catheter into the portal vein.

Persistent infection of the portal vein is a rare entity with significant mortality. We present two cases of infected thombis of the portal vein, one infected with fungus and the other with bacteria, both requiring percutaneous drainage to allow a response to antibiotics. The distinction between bland thrombis, infected thrombis, portal venous air, and pneumobilia will be discussed so that suppurative pylephlebitis can be recognized more easily as drain placement appears to affect a more prompt degree of improvement than antibiotics alone.