Mesenteric thrombosis

Published: 04/25/2012

Authors: Verhoeven BAN, Besselink MGH and Braak SJ

67-year-old woman was admitted with acute abdominal pain and vomiting. Physical examination revealed tenderness in right abdomen. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT showed venous thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein continuing into the portal vein. In addition, the perfusion of the small bowel was segmentally reduced and the small bowel mesentery was infiltrated. Emergency laparotomy revealed gross intestinal small bowel ischaemia. After resection, 125 cm small bowel was preserved. Anastomosis was made between proximal jejunum and terminal ileum. Her postoperative course was uncomplicated.