Small intestinal autotransplantation for spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection: A case report

Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (SISMAD) is a rare differential diagnosis for patients presenting with abdominal pain. Due to limited cases reported, surgical management strategies are poorly defined.

A 54-year-old man presented to our emergency department with a 4-day history of epigastric pain combined with nausea and vomiting. The pain was dull, constant, and unbearable. It was accompanied by abdominal distention, but there was no radiating pain, chills, fever, or hematochezia. The patient did not have a history of abdominal surgeries, or tobacco or illicit drug use.

A contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CT) scan demonstrated an isolated and spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection with aneurysmal evolution of the false lumen, involving multiple side branches. The middle-lower jejunum and the whole ileum were extensively dilated, and the middle jejunum was ischemic with edema.

Exploratory laparotomy and autologous small bowel transplantation.

The patient was successfully treated using exploratory laparotomy and intestinal autotransplantation (IATx) without bowel resection and had a stable recovery without complications.

For patients with severe mesenteric ischemia or those who fail to respond to initial conservative treatment, IATx may be a reasonable treatment strategy.