A Case of Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia Treated with Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty

Moon, In Sung; Kwon, Oh Sang; Jung, Hyuk Sang; Kim, Young Nam; Jong, Seol Won; Jeong, Seung Ki; Ju, Ki Tak; Kim, Sun Suk; Seo, Tae Seok; Yang, Dal Mo; Choi, Duck Joo; Kim, Ju Hyun

Abstract

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is characterized by postprandial pain and marked weight loss. It is provoked by inadequate intestinal blood flow and the increased metabolic demands associated with digestion. Diagnosis must be based on clinical symptoms, arteriographic demonstration of an occlusive process of the splanchnic vessels, exclusion of other gastrointestinal disorders, and the response to revascularization. Specially, angiography is indicated to confirm the diagnosis, to assess disease severity, and to plan revascularization. It can be treated by either surgical reconstruction of an artery or percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty with or without stenting. We had experienced a 63-year-old man who presented with postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss unexplained by conventional diagnostic studies. The aortography revealed about 80% of stenotic lesion in the superior mesenteric artery. After percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, postprandial abdominal pain was completely relieved. We report a case of chronic mesenteric ischemia with a review of relevant literature.