Conservative versus stent treatment for spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection after the failure of initial 3 days' conservative treatment: A 10-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVES

To compare the safety and effectiveness of conservative and stent treatment for spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) patients after the failure of initial 3 days' conservative treatment.

METHODS

All newly diagnosed SISMAD patients between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. After the failure of 3 days' conservative treatment, all patients were recommended for stent treatment, but some patients refused to choose it. Their demographic, radiologic, and clinical data were compared.

RESULTS

57 patients were not improved after initial 3 days' conservative treatment. Among them, 19 patients were chose to receive stent placement and 38 patients were continually treated with conservative treatment. The median follow-up time was 92.0 (range 62.7-120.4) months. There were no bowel ischemia and arterial rupture. No significant difference was observed in clinical complete recovery (Conservative 31/38 vs Stent 12/19, p =.19) and hospitalization time (Conservative 8.3 ± 1.7 days vs Stent 7.2 ± 1.5 days, p =.59) between conservative and stent treatment groups. Significant statistical differences were found in radiological complete remodeling (6/38 vs 16/19, p < .01) and hospitalization expense (8662 ± 2886 China Yuan vs 32,935 ± 11,767 China Yuan, p < .01) between these two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although undergoing the failure of initial 3 days' conservative treatment, continue conservative treatment still is safe and effective for SISMAD patients. Stent placement could be chosen as an alternative treatment, especially for patients potentially with bowel ischemia or arterial rupture.

Risk factor analysis and treatment outcome of patients with spontaneous isolated celiac axis or superior mesenteric artery dissection

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous isolated mesenteric artery (celiac axis or superior mesenteric artery [SMA]) dissection (IMAD) is a rare clinical entity. The aim of the present study was to examine the patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical and radiologic features, management, and prognosis and to identify the risk factors predictive of symptoms.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, retrospective review from November 2005 to November 2021 of prospectively collected data from patients with a diagnosis of IMAD. The clinical data and radiologic images were reviewed, and statistical analysis was performed to compare the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups.

RESULTS

A total of 78 patients were identified. Of the 78 patients, 24 (31%) had had celiac dissections, 51 (65%) had had SMA dissections, and 3 (4%) had had both celiac and SMA dissections. The mean age was 57.7 years (range, 36-84 years), with a male predominance (86%). More than one half (55%) of the patients had had hypertension. In addition, 29 patients (37%) were symptomatic, and 24 (31%) had been admitted to the hospital. The symptomatic patients with celiac axis dissections were more likely to have thrombosis (P = .02), significant stenosis (P = .01) or branch extension (P = .02). The symptomatic patients with SMA dissections were more likely to have a smaller artery diameter (P = .07), a longer dissection length (P = .05), thrombosis (P < .001), significant stenosis (P < .001), or branch extension (P = .003). The symptomatic patients were more likely to have been treated with antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy (P < .001). Only three patients had undergone an intervention. Seven patients (9%) had died of unrelated causes. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a 5-year survival rate of 96% and 10-year survival rate of 91%.

CONCLUSIONS

IMAD is an uncommon disease entity with a risk of visceral ischemia. Nonetheless, most of these patients can be treated conservatively with medication, with only a small minority requiring emergency surgery.

A Staged Operation as a Surgical Strategy for a Patient with Type VI Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection

An isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection (ISMAD) is extremely rare among visceral artery dissections. Its diagnosis is made by abdominal contrast CT scan which shows SMA occlusion partially or completely. The ISMAD is classified into 6 types: type I–V has partial occlusion and treated medically using antiplatelets or anticoagulants. On the other hand, type VI has complete occlusion and must be treated by urgent surgical operation. We present a 67-year-old female who presented with sudden onset abdominal pain and melena. An urgent contrast CT revealed type VI ISMAD. She underwent 3 staged operations as follows: (1) first, as laparotomy showed pale color in almost the extensive length of the small intestine, arterial bypassing of SMA was undertaken using SMA to the right common iliac artery bypass; (2) as the second-look operation on the next day, the terminal ileum was resected, and the remaining small intestine was able to be preserved. However, when the abdomen was tried to be closed, systemic blood pressure decreased to pre-shock condition, so the abdominal wall was closed at skin level with silastic sheet. (3) As the third-look operation on the 7th day, ileostomy was created, and the abdominal wall was safely closed. The postoperative course was uneventful. This case study shows that SMA grafting and staged operations might be an option to preserve the length of the small intestine when ISMAD is diagnosed as type VI.

Laparoscopic treatment in a patient with median arcuate ligament syndrome identified at the onset of superior mesenteric artery dissection: a case report

Background

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare clinical entity caused mainly by extrinsic compression of the celiac axis by the median arcuate ligament (MAL). Severe celiac artery stenosis can lead to the development of collateral circulation, aneurysms, and, rarely, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection. The treatment of MALS involves the surgical release of the MAL. However, a standard procedure with the use of laparoscopy has not been established, and intraoperative complications can lead to severe vascular injury.

Case presentation

The patient was a 43-year-old man with MALS identified at the onset of SMA dissection. After treatment for the SMA dissection, he underwent laparoscopic MAL release. Using the technique of laparoscopic gastrectomy within the surgical field, we performed laparoscopic MAL release and ganglionectomy safely with a good view. Immediate symptomatic improvement was acquired, and no recurrence was observed at the 20-month follow-up.

Conclusion

We reported a rare case of MALS and SMA dissection. A horizontal 3D laparoscopic approach of the celiac axis allows for safe, meticulous, and radical MAL release and ganglionectomy.

The value of CT findings for prognostic prediction of spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection is rare cause of acute abdomen. Time-dependent change of SMA dissection has not been established.

PURPOSE

To determine Sakamoto classification (SC) type of acute and chronic SMA dissection (aSMAD and cSMAD) to predict the treatment methods and outcome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From April 2003 to March 2017, unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT were used to diagnose acute symptomatic or chronic asymptomatic SMA dissection in 25 consecutive patients without aortic dissection. Correlations between SCs and treatment methods and outcomes were investigated.

RESULTS

All 13 patients with aSMAD initially received conservative treatment. Initial SCs in aSMAD were type I = 1, type III = 9, and type IV = 3. Three of nine initial type III and two of three initial type IV changed to type I at follow-up. One of nine type III changed to type II at follow-up. Ohers did not change. One with initial type III required vascular repair, so the final SC was not available. Three patients required bowel resection. In cSMAD of 12 patients, the initial/final SC were type I and IV in ten and two patients, respectively, without change during follow-up. cSMAD was significantly older than aSMAD. The initial length of dissection of aSMAD was longer than in the cSMAD group. In aSMAD, the final length of dissection was significantly shorter than in the initial computed tomography scan.

CONCLUSION

Initial SC differed significantly between aSMAD and cSMAD. Initial SC types in aSMAD were type III and IV mainly, and changed during the observation period. In cSMAD, SC types were I and IV without change.

Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection: A Case Report and Literature Review

Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain. Clinical presentation ranges from an asymptomatic incidental finding to acute bowel ischemia or fatal aneurysmal super mesenteric artery (SMA) rupture. We report the case of a 58-year-old male presenting with abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed an ISMAD without radiological evidence of bowel ischemia. The patient was successfully treated using a conservative approach including bowel rest and anticoagulation. ISMAD incidence is expected to increase with the utilization of advanced imaging modalities. Thus, an ISMAD should be suspected when other common causes of an acute abdomen have been excluded. Given the lack of evidence-based guidelines, management options include conservative treatment and anticoagulation, endovascular stenting, or open surgical repair.

Real clinical management of patients with isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection in Japan

BACKGROUND

Due to the rarity of this condition, clinical treatment and outcomes in isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) patients remain unknown. The primary aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to elucidate the treatment strategies and in-hospital outcomes for ISMAD patients by using administrative data.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients that were primarily diagnosed with ISMAD using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination data collected at 141 hospitals in Japan in 2015. Patients with comorbidities that included "aneurysm" were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 221 ISMAD without aneurysm patients (male: 90.5%; mean age: 52.5±10.1 years) were enrolled, and 95 (67.4%) of these encountered just one ISMAD case per year. We found only one (0.5%) in-hospital death and length of stay for ISMAD patients was 13.2±9.1 days. One-third of patients received antiplatelet therapy (32.1%) and anticoagulation therapies, such as heparin (38.9%) and warfarin (10.0%). A total of 146 (66.1%) patients received antihypertensive treatment (either orally or via an intravenous route) during hospitalization. Twelve (5.4%) patients underwent surgical procedures during hospitalization as follows: 4 (33.3%) patients underwent bypass surgery, 3 (25.0%) patients underwent exploratory laparotomies, 2 (16.7%) patients underwent bowel resection, 1 (8.3%) patient underwent a thrombectomy, and 2 (16.7%) patients underwent surgical angioplasties.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that conservative therapy for ISMAD patients without aneurysm is safe and is also associated with a low rate of surgical intervention in clinical practice.

Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection with Small Intestine Ischemia

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection without aortic dissection is a rare condition, and its diagnosis is considered to be difficult. Intestinal infarction is a severe complication of the disease, which may require resection of the intestine. We present a case of isolated SMA dissection. A 53-year-old man experienced sudden pain in the abdomen while playing Japanese pinball and was admitted to our hospital due to acute abdominal symptoms of uncertain cause. Enhanced CT revealed a defect of the root of the SMA, while angiography and intravascular ultrasound findings showed dissection of the SMA wall. Conservative treatment was chosen at the time, while a part of the small intestine was eventually resected because of progressive ischemia. Although SMA dissection is a rare occurrence in cases with acute abdominal symptoms, awareness of the condition is important for differential diagnosis.

Superior mesenteric artery dissection as a complication of an endovascular attempt to treat aneurysms of the pancreaticoduodenal arteries

A case of iatrogenic dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in a 42-year old woman during an attempt of endovascular treatment of aneurysms of the pancreaticoduodenal arteries coexisting with a stenosis of the coeliac trunk is presented. The dissection occurred most probably during insertion of an introducer sheath into the SMA. The patient at that moment reported a short-lasting abdominal pain and after that remained asymptomatic. Due to technical difficulties, the attempt of endovascular management of pancreaticoduodenal aneurysms was abandoned. The completion angiography revealed the occlusion of the SMA. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy; pancreaticoduodenal aneurysms were excised and SMA dissection was repaired with endarterectomy and a patch closure. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient remained asymptomatic during a 30-month follow-up. The case underscores the importance of completion angiography after endovascular interventions in the SMA since the early period of its occlusion may be asymptomatic.