A case report of an isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection caused by childbirth

Background The isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SMAD) is a rare and sporadic cause of acute abdominal pain. It most frequently affects male patients in their fifth to sixth decades, while our patient was a young woman who delivered a baby before the onset of abdominal pain. Possible risk factors for SMAD include hypertension, arteriosclerosis, abnormalities in elastic fibres, trauma, and pregnancy. In our case, delivery was suggested as a risk factor, which has not been reported previously. Case presentation A 27-year-old woman complained of acute severe upper abdominal pain and vomiting for 2 days after delivery. The patient had no significant medical history. Physical examination revealed epigastric mild tenderness. All routine blood tests, blood coagulation analysis, liver function tests and abdomen computed tomography showed no remarkable findings. Computed tomography angiography revealed a marked dissection 3.5 cm below the superior mesenteric artery ostium. Since distal blood flow existed and the patient was in a puerperal state with no evidences of mesenteric ischemia, she was managed conservatively, including intestinal rest by fasting, parenteral nutritional support and antibioticis, without anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents. Fortunately, she recovered smoothly and had no recurrence. Conclusions SMAD is a rare and sporadic cause of acute abdominal pain that occurs in young women after delivery.

Conservative management of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection: a case report

Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) is a rare and potentially fatal cause diagnosis presenting with acute abdominal; however, because of its rarity, the pathogenic factors of SISMAD remain unknown and no clear cause has been found. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence-based treatment guidelines.

New technique for false lumen coiling of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection

Background Spontaneous isolated visceral artery dissection is rarely encountered. Endovascular intervention with good outcomes has become popular for patients with persistent symptoms or developing ischemia. We could perform life-saving treatment for a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection with a unique endovascular intervention. Case presentation We describe the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with acute abdominal pain and a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection measuring 35 mm in major diameter and 6.6 mm in minor diameter on abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography. After admission, abdominal pain was progressive, and a repeated scan revealed progression of the dissection. As an endovascular intervention, via the bilateral femoral approach, detachable coils were placed in the false lumen of the superior mesenteric artery dissection through the false lumen under the micro-balloon occlusion at the point of re-entry and entry through the true lumen to prevent coil migration. Technical and clinical success was achieved without serious adverse events. Conclusion Coil embolization using micro-balloon assistance combined with the double-catheter technique for a large entry and re-entry false lumen of a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection was useful and feasible.

New technique for false lumen coiling of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection

Background: Spontaneous isolated visceral artery dissection is rarely encountered. Endovascular intervention with good outcomes has become popular for patients with persistent symptoms or developing ischemia. We could perform life-saving treatment for a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection with a unique endovascular intervention.Case presentation: We describe the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with acute abdominal pain and a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection measuring 35 mm in major diameter and 6.6 mm in minor diameter on abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography. After admission, abdominal pain was progressive, and a repeated scan revealed progression of the dissection. As an endovascular intervention, via the bilateral femoral approach, detachable coils were placed in the false lumen of the superior mesenteric artery dissection through the false lumen under the micro-balloon occlusion at the point of re-entry and entry through the true lumen to prevent coil migration. Technical and clinical success was achieved without serious adverse events.Conclusion: Coil embolization using micro-balloon assistance combined with the double-catheter technique for a large entry and re-entry false lumen of a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection was useful and feasible.

Clinical features of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection in the emergency department: a single center retrospective study

Isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) is a relatively rare disease and often lacks specificity in its clinical presentation, diagnosing it in emergency departments quickly and accurately is a challenge. The study was conducted to understand the basic characteristics of ISMAD including age of onset, risk factors, gender difference and whether D-dimer can be used as a biomarker for its detection. We retrospectively analyzed patients with ISMAD admitted to the emergency department of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from September 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020. The data included the patient’s basic information and the first laboratory test results after admission, including routine blood, liver function, renal function and coagulation function tests. Statistical analysis of results was done using GraphPad Prism 5. There were a total of 17 (15 male and 2 female) patients with a mean age of 52.53 ± 7.11 years diagnosed with ISMAD. Out of these, 7 (41%) patients had history of hypertension, 7 (41%) had history of smoking and/or alcohol intake, and almost all patients experienced significant abdominal pain and fullness. Four patients (24%) were initially misdiagnosed. The laboratory test results of renal, liver function tests and myocardial enzymology were in their normal ranges. In coagulation results, the positive rates of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer were 29% and 35%, respectively. We compared these ISMAD results with our previous results for acute aortic dissection (AAD). D-dimer and FDP levels were lower in the ISMAD than in the AAD patients (P = 0.0004, P = 0.0325, respectively), and negative rates of D-dimer and FDP in ISMAD (65%, 71%) were higher than in AAD patients (14%, 24%) (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0003, respectively). In our study, ISMAD mostly occurred in middle-aged male patients with known hypertension or active smoking status. Misdiagnosis was common (24% of cases). Since D-dimer and FDP levels proved to be of limited diagnostic value, an abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) scan should be conducted in patients with unclear abdominal pain at an early stage of their diagnostic workup.