ABSTRACT
Abdominal angina and fear of eating are manifestations of mesenteric ischemia. This infrequent cause of abdominal pain was diagnosed in a 60-year-old female smoker. We performed a novel side-to-side aorto-mesenteric anastomosis for mesenteric revascularization, with good short-term (6 months) result.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Pain/etiology , Anastomosis, Surgical/methods , Aorta, Abdominal/surgery , Female , Humans , Mesenteric Arteries/surgery , Mesenteric Artery, Superior , Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion/surgery , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Totally implantable venous devices (TIVD) are increasingly being utilized for venous access for chemotherapy of oncological patients. These devices considerably improve the quality of life of patients requiring long-term chemotherapy. However, despite the great usefulness of TIVDs, their insertion and maintenance is not free of complications. Many early as well as late complications associated with these devices have been reported. We report an unusual, silent, but potentially hazardous complication of catheter fracture and cardiac migration in a 16-year-old girl, in whom the port had been unused for 9 months before presentation. Percutaneous retrieval was unsuccessful as the catheter end was embedded in the myocardium. The catheter was removed via a midline sternotomy without any further complications. We have also reviewed the literature about the possible mechanism of this complication and discussed methods to recognize and avoid it.