Liver resection for the treatment of a congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt.

Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IPSS) are rare congenital anomalies arising from disordered portal vein embryogenesis. It has been described in both children and adults and may be asymptomatic or be associated with a variety of neurophysiological and pulmonary complications. When recognized, early intervention to occlude the shunt will reverse the associated complications. Literature review reports of surgical and radiological occlusion of the shunt, but due to its rarity, a standard therapeutic protocol has not been established. A case of a 38-year-old woman with abdominal pain and low grade encephalopathy, diagnosed with an IPSS and treated by right hepatectomy was reported.