Successful treatment in superior mesenteric artery embolism: a case report and literature review.

The authors report a successful management of acute superior mesenteric artery embolism in a patient during the treatment of popliteal artery embolism. The diagnosis of this disease was confirmed by computerized tomographic angiography. Immediate surgical embolectomy and bowel resection were performed and postoperatively, he made an uneventful recovery except for minimal watery diarrhea for one week. In the present report the authors also review the in-patient records at Siriraj Hospital during 2005-2009 consisting of 14 cases with the claim diagnosis of this condition. Most of the patients developed peritonism on abdominal examinations showing a delay in diagnosis. The mortality rate was 86% (12 cases) which was higher than international reports. It is important to note that patients presenting with abdominal pain with underlying risk factors of arterial embolism is the clue in early diagnosis of this condition. CTA mesenteric artery is the most appropriate investigation to visualize the presence of embolism. Finally, immediate revascularization treatment is essential in the successful management of this fatal vascular problem.