Acute Appendicitis Accompanied by Superior Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) is a rare disease that can cause intestinal congestion and necrosis and may follow a serious course. A 56-year-old man presented to our hospital with the chief complaint of abdominal pain. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed evidence of acute appendicitis and ileocolic and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, and based on the findings, we diagnosed the patient as having acute appendicitis accompanied by SMVT. As the patient’s condition was stable, we selected conservative treatment and initiated the patient on antibiotic and anticoagulant therapy. The clinical course was satisfactory, and contrast-enhanced CT confirmed that the SMVT had disappeared. Considering the possibility of SMVT recurrence due to appendicitis, we performed an interval appendectomy and subsequently completed the anticoagulant therapy. In cases of acute appendicitis accompanied by SMVT, our experience suggests that in the absence of intestinal congestion or necrosis, the patient can receive the usual treatment for acute appendicitis with the addition of anticoagulant therapy.