Endovascular therapy as an alternative treatment in chronic mesenteric ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is an uncommon disorder. Traditional treatment consists of open surgical (OS) revascularization. We report a case of CMI treated with percutaneous angioplasty and stenting. A 77-year-old-woman reported a history of postprandial abdominal pain, weight loss, asthenia, and anorexia. On physical examination, the only relevant sign was systolic murmur. Oral panendoscopy showed chronic atrophic gastritis and patchy intestinal metaplasia with Helicobacter pylori colonization; rectal sigmoidoscopy showed colonic diverticula. Abdominal ultrasound color-flow imaging confirmed superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis > 70%. Angiography confirmed proximal SMA subocclusion and celiac trunk stenosis of 50%. Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting were carried out. The patient made an immediate recovery and remains without postprandial pain. CMI due to atherosclerotic occlusive disease was first reported in 1936 and is a relatively uncommon disorder. This entity usually occurs in patients over 60 years of age with other atherosclerotic symptoms. CMI presents with postprandial abdominal pain, anorexia due to , and weight loss. Despite high perioperative morbidity and mortality rates, OS revascularization has traditionally been the treatment of choice. The most frequent indications include pain relief, improvement of nutritional status, and prevention of intestinal infarction. Endovascular therapy seems to be a valid alternative, mainly in high-risk patients, with good immediate and medium-term results.