Provoked Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Following Emergent Appendectomy: A Case Report

Mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by the formation of a thrombus in the mesenteric venous system. MVT has been reported as a rare complication of laparoscopic surgery and oral contraceptive (OC) use; however, literature remains limited on a reported case highlighting the combinatorial effect of these two independent risk factors in provoking an MVT. We present the case of a 48-year-old female patient taking oral contraceptives who presented with nonspecific abdominal symptoms and unremarkable physical examination findings following an uneventful emergent laparoscopic appendectomy eleven days prior. Computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed extensive superior mesenteric venous thrombosis. No signs of bowel ischemia were present, and the patient was successfully treated with anticoagulant therapy. This report underscores the importance of clinical vigilance for mesenteric venous thrombosis in patients taking oral contraceptives who present with nonspecific abdominal pain following emergent abdominal surgery.