Hepatic portal venous gas in adults: importance of ultrasonography in early diagnosis and survival.

: Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is an ominous radiologic sign and indicates the need for urgent surgical intervention. The causes are varied, but the commonest and most serious is infarcted bowel. Because HPVG is difficult to detect on plain abdominal x-ray films, more reliable methods have been sought. The authors describe the case of a 31-year-old man to illustrate the need for and benefit of early detection of HPVG using ultrasonography, which was instrumental in the survival of the patient.