[Intra-arterial thrombolysis of acute mesenteric ischemia]

A 73-year-old man with pre-existing cardiac failure, coronary artery and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was presented for an acute mesenteric ischaemia, resulting from an embolic obstruction of the superior mesenteric artery. An intra-arterial fibrinolysis with a bolus of 250 000 units of streptokinase, followed by an infusion of 150 mg rtPA with adequate heparin dosage was performed 10 hours after the first symptoms. An abdominal guarding occurred 24 hours later, despite radiological improvement, justifying emergency surgery which confirmed the partial efficiency of the medical therapy. Unfortunately, a cardiogenic shock occurred preoperatively and the patient died five days later from intractable cardiovascular failure.