A Case of Disappearing Ascites: Late Presentation of Acute Portal Vein Thrombosis After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) has been usually diagnosed as a complication secondary to cardiac, hepatic, and malignant etiologies, but it rarely described in the setting of blunt abdominal trauma. This case depicts an older male who presented emergency department with progressive ascites lower extremity edema within two weeks after motor vehicle accident (MVA). Ascitic fluid analysis indicated presence portal hypertension, which prompted extensive evaluation determine etiology. Further workup, including hypercoagulable malignancy screening, unveiled diagnosis acute PVT force trauma, showing rather rare presentation.