Mesenteric ischemia

Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein as a Predictor of Early Mesenteric Injury Preceding Clinical Presentation: A Case Report

Introduction

Diagnosing non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia (NOMI) in patients is complicated, due to poor signs and symptoms and non-specific laboratory tests, leading to a high mortality rate. This case study presents the rare case of a patient who developed mesenteric ischaemia after an emergency thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for a type B aortic dissection (TBAD) and peri-operative cardiogenic shock. Study outcomes revealed that intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) identified early mucosal damage two days before the clinical presentation.

Report

A 43 year old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with an acute TBAD and a dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), for which TEVAR was performed with additional stent placement in the SMA. Peri-operatively, the patient went into cardiogenic shock with a sustained period of hypotension. Post-operatively, the plasma I-FABP levels were measured prospectively, revealing an initial increase on post-operative day five (551.1 pg/mL), which continued beyond day six (610.3 pg/mL). On post-operative day seven, the patient developed a fever and demonstrated signs of peritonitis and bowel perforation. He underwent an emergency laparotomy, followed by an ileocaecal resection (<100 cm) with a transverse ileostomy. Pathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of mesenteric ischaemia.

Discussion

The diagnosis of NOMI in critically ill patients is often complicated, and the currently available diagnostic markers lack the specificity and sensitivity to detect early intestinal injury. This case report highlights that elevated I-FABP in plasma levels may indicate the presence of early mesenteric injury. Further research needs to be conducted before I-FABP can be applied in daily practice.

Gastrointestinal Ultrasound in Emergency Setting

Acute bowel diseases are responsible for more than one third of subjects who were referred to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain and gastrointestinal evaluation. Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is often employed as the first imaging method, with a good diagnostic accuracy in the setting of acute abdomen, and it can be an optimal diagnostic strategy in young females due to the radiation exposure related to X-ray and computed tomography methods. The physician can examine the gastrointestinal system in the area with the greatest tenderness by ultrasound, thus obtaining more information and data on the pathology than the standard physical examination. In this comprehensive review, we have reported the most relevant indications and advantages to using ultrasound in the investigation of abdominal acute pain.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia: causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is an urgent public health problem. The long asymptomatic course of the disease, sudden onset and an unfavorable prognosis in the absence of treatment make it necessary to pay closer attention to this pathology. There are currently two competitive treatments for CMI: surgical and endovascular revascularization. Despite numerous studies comparing these methods, the question of which one is more effective and reliable remains open. The review includes current data from clinical trials and meta-analyses demonstrating the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

Nonocclusive Mesenteric Ischemia Is a Potentially Lethal Complication Just after Stroke Onset: Report of Six Case Studies

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a rare but life-threatening post-stroke complication. This is the first case series report of NOMI after stroke, describing its characteristics and the difficulty of diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed 367 stroke patients from April 2018 to May 2019 in our hospital. We identified six patients (1.6%) with NOMI after stroke and described their clinical presentation, including characteristics, vital signs, laboratory parameters, treatment, and outcomes. The mean interval between stroke onset and diagnosis of NOMI was 4.6 days (range, 3–10 days). Five patients had disturbance of consciousness caused by stroke, and therefore the major complaints and symptoms associated with NOMI were nonspecific, possibly resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. All patients had a high respiratory rate (≥22 breaths/min). C-reactive protein and lactate levels were high (mean, 21.6 mg/L and 2.4 mmol/L, respectively). All patients underwent emergent abdominal operations. Four patients were discharged with modified Rankin Scale scores ≥4, and two patients died. NOMI can be a fatal post-stroke complication and is challenging to diagnose. Further investigations should be conducted to determine the most efficient way to diagnose NOMI after stroke.

Acute Mesenteric Infarction: The Chameleon of Acute Abdomen Evaluating the Quality of the Diagnostic Parameters in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is difficult to diagnose. Since the established parameters have low sensitivity and specificity, the aim of this study is to analyze the diagnostic quality of the established parameters of AMI.

METHODS

All patients that underwent emergency surgery due to suspected diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between 2008 and 2014 were evaluated. Overall, 275 patients were enrolled and pre-, intra- and postoperative data were evaluated.

RESULTS

In 200 patients, a mesenteric ischemia was confirmed intraoperatively, and 75 patients had no ischemia. Comparing these groups, the rate of patients with pH < 7.2 (25 vs. 12%; p = 0.021) and elevated mean CRP level (175 ± 117 mg/L vs. 139 ± 104 mg/L; p = 0.019) was significantly higher in ischemic patients. There was no significant difference in the level of preoperative lactate. Concerning abdominal CT scan, a sensitivity and specificity of 61 and 68%, respectively, was found.

CONCLUSION

New diagnostic parameters are needed. So far, explorative laparotomy is the only reliable diagnostic method to detect mesenteric infarction.

Gastrointestinal Ultrasound (GIUS) in Intestinal Emergencies - An EFSUMB Position Paper

An interdisciplinary group of European experts summarizes the value of gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) in the management of three time-critical causes of acute abdomen: bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation and acute ischemic bowel disease. Based on an extensive literature review, statements for a targeted diagnostic strategy in these intestinal emergencies are presented. GIUS is best established in case of small bowel obstruction. Metanalyses and prospective studies showed a sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of computed tomography (CT) and superior to plain X-ray. GIUS may save time and radiation exposure and has the advantage of displaying bowel function directly. Gastrointestinal perforation is more challenging for less experienced investigators. Although GIUS in experienced hands has a relatively high sensitivity to establish a correct diagnosis, CT is the most sensitive method in this situation. The spectrum of intestinal ischemia ranges from self-limited ischemic colitis to fatal intestinal infarction. In acute arterial mesenteric ischemia, GIUS may provide information, but prompt CT angiography is the gold standard. On the other end of the spectrum, ischemic colitis shows typical ultrasound features that allow correct diagnosis. GIUS here has a diagnostic performance similar to CT and helps to differentiate mild from severe ischemic colitis.

Gut Microbiota Restricts NETosis in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVE

Recruitment of neutrophils and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to lethality in acute mesenteric infarction. To study the impact of the gut microbiota in acute mesenteric infarction, we used gnotobiotic mouse models to investigate whether gut commensals prime the reactivity of neutrophils towards formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETosis). Approach and Results: We applied a mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury model to germ-free (GF) and colonized C57BL/6J mice. By intravital imaging, we quantified leukocyte adherence and NET formation in I/R-injured mesenteric venules. Colonization with gut microbiota or monocolonization with Escherichia coli augmented the adhesion of leukocytes, which was dependent on the TLR4 (Toll-like receptor-4)/TRIF (TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β) pathway. Although neutrophil accumulation was decreased in I/R-injured venules of GF mice, NETosis following I/R injury was significantly enhanced compared with conventionally raised mice or mice colonized with the minimal microbial consortium altered Schaedler flora. Also ex vivo, neutrophils from GF and antibiotic-treated mice showed increased LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced NETosis. Enhanced TLR4 signaling in GF neutrophils was due to elevated TLR4 expression and augmented IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor-3) phosphorylation. Likewise, neutrophils from antibiotic-treated conventionally raised mice had increased NET formation before and after ischemia. Increased NETosis in I/R injury was abolished in conventionally raised mice deficient in the TLR adaptor TRIF. In support of the desensitizing influence of enteric LPS, treatment of GF mice with LPS via drinking water diminished LPS-induced NETosis in vitro and in the mesenteric I/R injury model.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our results identified that the gut microbiota suppresses NETing neutrophil hyperreactivity in mesenteric I/R injury, while ensuring immunovigilance by enhancing neutrophil recruitment.

Acute Intestinal Infarction Due to Diffuse Jejunoileal and Mesenteric Lipomatosis in a 39-Year-Old Woman

Patient: Female, 39-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Acute intestinal infarction

Symptoms: Painful

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Intestinal resection

Specialty: Surgery

The Pathogenesis of Nonocclusive Mesenteric Ischemia: Implications for Research and Clinical Practice

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a condition that can encompass ischemia, inflammation, and infarction of the intestinal wall. In contrast to most patients with acute mesenteric ischemia, NOMI is distinguished by patent arteries and veins. The clinical presentation of NOMI is often insidious and nonspecific, resulting in a delayed diagnosis. Patients most at risk are those with severe acute and critical disease, including major surgery and trauma. Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia is part of a spectrum, from mild, asymptomatic, and an unexpected finding on CT scanning, through to those exhibiting abdominal distension and peritonitis. Severe NOMI is associated with a significant mortality rate. This review of NOMI pathophysiology was conducted to document current concepts and evidence, to examine the implications for diagnosis and treatment, and to identify gaps in knowledge that might direct future research. The key pathologic mechanisms involved in the genesis of NOMI represent an exaggerated normal physiological response to maintain perfusion of vital organs at the expense of mesenteric perfusion. A supply-demand mismatch develops in the intestine due to the development of persistent mesenteric vasoconstriction resulting in reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery to the intestine, particularly to the vulnerable superficial mucosa. This mismatch can be exacerbated by raised intra-abdominal pressure, enteral nutrition, and the use of certain vasoactive drugs, ultimately resulting in the development of intestinal ischemia. Strategies for prevention, early detection, and treatment are urgently needed.

Emergency Computed Tomography Angiogram of the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis

In the setting of blunt trauma, the rapid assessment of internal injuries is essential to prevent potentially fatal outcomes. Computed tomography is a useful diagnostic tool for both screening and diagnosis. In addition to trauma, acute chest syndromes often warrant emergent computed tomographic angiography, looking for etiologies such as aortic aneurysms or complications of aortic aneurysms, or both, pulmonary emboli, as well as other acute vascular process like aortic dissection and Takayasu aortitis. With continued improvements in diagnostic imaging, computed tomographic angiography of the chest, abdominal and pelvis proves to be an effective modality to image the aorta and other major vascular structures.

Intestinal angina in a patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a case report

Background

Intestinal angina is characterized by recurrent postprandial abdominal pain and anorexia. Commonly, these symptoms are caused by severe stenosis of at least two vessels among the celiac and mesenteric arteries. However, intestinal perfusion is affected not only by the degree of arterial stenosis but also by systemic perfusion. We experienced a unique case of intestinal angina caused by relatively mild stenosis of the abdominal arteries complicated with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Case presentation

We report an 86-year old Japanese man with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and advanced atrioventricular block who was diagnosed with intestinal angina. Computed tomography showed mild stenosis of the celiac artery and severe stenosis of the inferior mesenteric artery, and these lesions were relatively mild compared with other reports. A dual-chamber pacemaker with right ventricular apical pacing was implanted to improve the obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. After implantation, the patient’s abdominal symptoms diminished markedly, and improvement of the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was observed.

Conclusions

Although intestinal angina is generally defined by severe stenosis of at least two vessels among the celiac and mesenteric arteries, the present case suggests that hemodynamic changes can greatly affect intestinal perfusion and induce intestinal angina in the presence of mild stenosis of the celiac and mesenteric arteries.

Hollow organ abdominal ischemia, part II: clinical features, etiology, imaging findings and management

Acute hollow organ ischemia commonly presents with acute pain prompting radiologic evaluation and almost always requires urgent treatment. Despite different risk factors and anatomic differences, ischemia is commonly due to low flow states but can also be due to arterial and venous occlusion. Radiologic diagnosis is critical as many present with nonspecific symptoms. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred in suspected appendicitis in pregnant patients and is superior in biliary necrosis. This article provides a pictorial review of the CT/MRI features of hollow abdominal organ ischemia while highlighting key clinical features, pathogenesis, and management.