Postcoarctectomy mesenteric arteritis presenting as neonatal appendicitis

A case of mesenteric arteritis complicating the post-operative coarctectomy in a 5 day old infant is described. This case was of interest due to diagnostic difficulties and the fatal outcome. In order to avoid the disastrous consequences of this syndrome, the following symptoms including fever, intestinal bleeding, ileus, nausea, vomiting, leucocytosis, hypertension or abdominal pain should alert the physicians and treatment should start without delay.