Two Days After Symptom Onset was Not Too Late to Obviate Intestinal Resection: A Case of Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism

Abstract

A septuagenarian male was diagnosed as having an acute superior mesenteric artery （SMA） embolism and was transferred to our hospital. About 2 days had passed since the onset of symptoms；however, no obvious signs of intestinal necrosis were present. The patient underwent an angiography that revealed the occlusion of the SMA by a thrombus in the truncus. The thrombus was injected with urokinase and was suctioned with an aspiration catheter. Intestinal blood flow was restored after the procedure, obviating the need for intestinal resection. Early diagnosis and endovascular treatment can lead to intestinal preservation in patients with SMA embolism.