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Celiac artery dissection from heavy weight lifting

Thomas S Riles1, Judith C Lin

  • 1Division of Vascular Surgery, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA. thomas.Riles@nyumc.org

Journal of Vascular Surgery
|April 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Weightlifting can cause celiac artery dissection, a rare condition affecting abdominal arteries. This case report details a patient who developed this serious vascular injury during strenuous exercise.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Weightlifting is a common exercise, but strenuous activity can pose risks.
  • Abdominal pain during or after exercise warrants thorough investigation.
  • Celiac artery dissection is a rare vascular emergency.

Observation:

  • A 45-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain after bench-pressing heavy weights.
  • Computed tomography angiogram revealed dissection of the celiac artery and its branches (hepatic and splenic arteries).
  • Thrombus was identified in the false lumen of the common hepatic artery.

Findings:

  • The patient's symptoms resolved with conservative management.
  • Treatment included anticoagulation with warfarin and beta-blocker therapy with metoprolol.
  • This represents the first reported instance of weightlifting-induced celiac artery dissection.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider visceral artery dissection in athletes experiencing abdominal pain after heavy lifting.
  • Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • This case highlights the potential for exercise-induced vascular injuries in susceptible individuals.

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