A case with hepatic portal vein gas who required delayed elective surgery.

•Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is believed to be an indication for emergent surgery because it is associated with high mortality rate.•The recent increase in the use of modern abdominal CT has resulted in the detection of HPVG in more benign conditions.•The decision-making process whether we choose emergent surgery or conservative treatment without surgery is important for the patients with HPVG.•The case with portal hepatic vein gas (HPVG) presented in this article required delayed elective surgery after conservative treatment.•This case show the subtle difference comparing with the other case who were successfully treated without surgery.