Primary Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis: An Unusual Cause of Abdominal Pain in a Young, Healthy Woman

A 24-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain and a physical examination consistent with acute pelvic inflammatory disease. She was treated and released only to return several hours later with worsening of her condition and unstable vital signs. Laparotomy revealed acute mesenteric venous thrombosis with patent mesenteric arteries. This is an unusual case of mesenteric thrombosis in a young, healthy woman. [Mock JN, Orsay EM: Primary mesenteric venous thrombosis: An unusual cause of abdominal pain in a young, healthy woman. Ann Emerg Med February 1994;23:352-355.]