Abdominal complications due to collapse of a large mesenteric hematoma after rupture of a right colic artery aneurysm: a case report

Background

Non-traumatic mesenteric hematomas are usually well controlled, with no resulting symptoms. Herein, we report a case in which collapse of a large mesenteric hematoma, after rupture of a right colic artery aneurysm, caused small bowel obstruction and rapid absorption of the hematoma contributed to cholestasis.

Case presentation

A-44-year-old man presented with a sudden onset of severe right lower abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed rupture of a right colic artery aneurysm and intra-abdominal bleeding. After embolization of the right colic artery aneurysm, a large mesenteric hematoma remained. As the patient had no symptoms, we elected to pursue conservative treatment. However, on day 16 post-onset, he developed right lower abdominal pain. On CT imaging, partial collapse of the wall of the residual mesenteric hematoma was observed, with visible leakage from the hematoma into the abdominal cavity, resulting in small bowel obstruction and cholestasis. Symptoms did not improve with conservative treatment, and we proceeded to surgical treatment on day 32 after onset. Intra-operatively, adhesions between the small bowel and the abdominal wall were identified and caused the small bowel obstruction. We proceeded with removing these adhesions and as much of the hematoma as possible. Although the small bowel obstruction improved after surgery, cholecystitis developed, and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration was performed on day 45. The patient was discharged on day 70.

Conclusions

Collapse of a mesenteric hematoma can cause small bowel obstruction. Rapid absorption of the hematoma due to the collapse might contribute to cholestasis. A large abdominal hematoma might be a risk factor for failure of conservative treatment, and surgery might be required due to abdominal complications.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the Virtual Biopsy of Mesenteric Masses

ABSTRACT

The mesentery may be affected by multiple disease processes. Magnetic resonance imaging aids as a virtual pathological biopsy tool in the assessment of mesenteric masses because of superior soft tissue contrast and characterization. In this comprehensive review, we describe in detail the magnetic resonance imaging features of some solid and cystic mesenteric masses, with an emphasis on lesion-specific signal characteristics on T1- and T2-weighted images, diffusion-weighted imaging, and enhancement features on the dynamic postcontrast phase that aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis.

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-World Society of Emergency Surgery guidelines on diagnosis and management of abdominal vascular injuries

Abdominal vascular trauma accounts for a small percentage of military and a moderate percentage of civilian trauma, affecting all age ranges and impacting young adult men most frequently. Penetrating causes are more frequent than blunt in adults, while blunt mechanisms are more common among pediatric populations. High rates of associated injuries, bleeding, and hemorrhagic shock ensure that, despite advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, immediate open surgical repair remains the mainstay of treatment for traumatic abdominal vascular injuries. Because of their devastating nature, abdominal vascular injuries remain a significant source of morbidity and mortality among trauma patients. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma in conjunction with the World Society of Emergency Surgery seek to summarize the literature to date and provide guidelines on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of abdominal vascular injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Review study, level IV.

Mesenteric Vascular Injury in Trauma: An NTDB Study

BACKGROUND

Although abdominal trauma remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, there has not been a large-scale multicenter study regarding outcomes in patients who incur mesenteric vascular injuries. The goal of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the factors associated with outcomes in patients with trauma diagnosed with mesenteric vascular injuries.

METHODS

A retrospective database analysis was performed on patients who sustained a mesenteric vascular injury (MVI, ICD-9 902.20-902.29) identified by the 2012 National Trauma Data Bank. Data were analyzed to identify differences in hospital length of stay, emergency room (ER) and final hospital disposition, and mortality based on patient age, gender, race, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and injury type (blunt or penetrating).

RESULTS

Of the 1,133 total patients included, blunt trauma accounted for 740 (65%) of the injuries, whereas penetrating trauma accounted for 364 of the injuries (32%). Patients with penetrating injuries were 1.43 times more likely to die from their injuries than those suffering from blunt trauma (95% CI 1.04-1.98, P < 0.05). Patients with a higher ISS (>16) were 5.39 times more likely to die from their injuries than those with a lower ISS (95% CI 1.89-15.4, P = 0.002); if ISS was >25, the patient was 15.1 times more likely to die (95% CI 5.5-41.7, P < 0.001). Men were more likely to suffer from penetrating injuries than women (37% vs. 13%, P < 0.001), and African Americans were nearly 4 times more likely to present with penetrating injuries (69% vs 17%, P < 0.001). Age was also associated with mortality as patients >65 years and between 21 and 44 years were more likely to die from their injuries than patients in other age categories. Of the 740 patients with blunt MVIs, 326 (44%) were taken directly from the ER to the operating room (OR) and 306 (41%) to the intensive care unit (ICU), whereas with penetrating MVIs, 311 (85%) were taken to the OR from the emergency department and 18 (5%) to the intensive care unit. Of the 740 blunt MVIs, 115 died (16%), compared with 76 (21%) of the penetrating MVIs (P < 0.001). Injuries to the hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries were associated with higher mortality, with OR 2.03 and 3.03, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of mesenteric arterial injury warrants rapid identification and management as these injuries are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with penetrating mechanism, injury to large mesenteric vessels, and increased ISS associated with increased mortality.

Radiographic predictors of therapeutic operative intervention after blunt abdominal trauma: the RAPTOR score

PURPOSE

Bowel and mesenteric injuries are rare in patients following blunt abdominal trauma. Computed tomography (CT) imaging has become a mainstay in the work-up of the stable trauma patient. The purpose of this study was to identify radiographic predictors of therapeutic operative intervention for mesenteric and/or bowel injuries in patients after blunt abdominal trauma.

METHODS

All patients with a discharge diagnosis of bowel and/or mesenteric injury after blunt trauma were identified over a 5-year period. Admission CT scans were reviewed to identify potential predictors of bowel and/or mesenteric injury. Patients were then stratified by operative intervention [therapeutic laparotomy (TL) vs. non-therapeutic laparotomy (NTL)] and compared. All potential predictors included in the initial regression model were assigned one point and a score based on the number of predictors was calculated: the radiographic predictors of therapeutic operative intervention (RAPTOR) score.

RESULTS

151 patients were identified. 114 (76%) patients underwent operative intervention. Of these, 75 patients (66%) underwent TL. Multifocal hematoma, acute arterial extravasation, bowel wall hematoma, bowel devascularization, fecalization, pneumoperitoneum and fat pad injury, identified as potential predictors on univariable analysis, were included in the initial regression model and comprised the RAPTOR score. The optimal RAPTOR score was identified as ≥ 3, with a sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of 67%, 85% and 86%, respectively. Acute arterial extravasation (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.2-4.3), bowel devascularization (OR 14.5; 95% CI 11.8-18.4) and fat pad injury (OR 4.5 95% CI 1.6-6.2) were identified as independent predictors of TL (AUC 0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

CT imaging remains vital in assessing for potential bowel and/or mesenteric injuries following blunt abdominal trauma. The RAPTOR score provides a simplified approach to predict the need for early therapeutic operative intervention.

Diagnosis and Management of Rare Case of Mesenteric Hematoma Rupture after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We present a case of a 78-year-old female with history of diastolic heart failure and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation on apixaban presenting with worsening shortness of breath. She underwent transesophageal echocardiogram showing severe aortic stenosis with a valve area of 0.8 cm2. Coronary angiography did not reveal significant coronary artery disease. CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis did not show any evidence of hematoma or dissection. Patient was scheduled for transfemoral TAVR. Patient's apixaban was discontinued prior to the procedure. She received heparin during the procedure. She successfully underwent left transfemoral aortic valve replacement. Shortly after the procedure, she complained of abdominal pain and became hypotensive. Blood pressure was 76/44 mm of Hg (MAP 58). Hemoglobin dropped to 8.1 g/dl (baseline 13). Stat CT abdomen and pelvis showed a large volume of hemorrhage in the peritoneal cavity. CTA of abdomen showed no evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection but active extravasation below the inferior aspect of the spleen. Catheterization of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) identified ileal branch of SMA as the source of bleeding. Embolization using gel foam slurry followed by a coil insertion was performed. Repeat angiogram demonstrated continued extravasation through arcade collaterals. A rapid exploration of the abdominal cavity revealed ruptured mesenteric hematoma. Evacuation of hematoma was performed. Portion of small ileum and bleeding mesenteric branch vessel was resected. Her condition stabilized with no postoperative bleeding and she was discharged on warfarin postoperatively. Use of antithrombotic therapy increases risk of bleeding in TAVR patients. Mesenteric hematoma rupture if not identified can be life-threatening. We believe that this is the first reported case of mesenteric hematoma rupture after a TAVR procedure.

Large mesenteric hematoma after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for pancreatic stones: A case report

RATIONALE

Mesenteric hematoma after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for pancreatic stones is a very rare complication which has never been reported before.

PRESENTING CONCERNS

We reported a case of a 36-year-old male diagnosed as chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic stones and a large pancreatic pseudocyst. He underwent 3 repeated sessions of pancreatic ESWL (P-ESWL). After the last session of P-ESWL, he complained of dizziness. Physical examination revealed a large mass in the right abdomen.

DIAGNOSIS

Emergent upper abdominal computerized tomography (CT) revealed this mass is a mesenteric hematoma with the size of 8.2 cm × 11.7 cm in the right abdominal cavity after P-ESWL and there was no sign of intestinal obstruction.

INTERVENTIONS

With close monitoring of vital signs, the patient received conservative treatment for several days. Dynamic abdominal ultrasound monitoring revealed the mesenteric hematoma had organized.

OUTCOMES

Vital signs of the patient were stable after fluid transfusion. Three-month follow-up CT showed the mesenteric hematoma had absorbed completely.

LESSONS

Mesenteric hematoma rarely occurs after P-ESWL and it alerts us the importance of considering uncommon complications after P-ESWL. If mesenteric hematoma occurs after P-ESWL, conservative treatment could be the first choice while surgery can also be considered.