Acute mesenteric ischemia: primary percutaneous therapy

Management of acute mesenteric ischemia is still a matter of concern for physicians. This disorder has been associated to an increased mortality mainly because of a late diagnosis and controversial treatment options.

We describe the case of a multidisciplinary approach to a cardiogenic thrombotic occlusion of superior mesenteric artery resulting in acute mesenteric ischemia. After rapid diagnosis with Duplex scan, we brought the patient to our catheterization laboratory and managed it with the common tools used for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Among the specific issues of this case report, we observed some of the common complications of the acute myocardial infarction managed in the catheterization laboratory and treated them with the same tools used in the "myocardial area."

We showed how an "interventional cardiologist's" approach to acute mesenteric ischemia was effective in restoring superior mesenteric artery patency and in aborting a mesenteric infarction.