Colon Ischemia Associated with Buerger's Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Buerger's disease, or thromboangiitis obliterans, is a nonatherosclerotic inflammatory disease affecting the small- and medium-sized arteries and veins of the extremities (arms, hands, legs, and feet). It is most common in the Orient, Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East, and usually affects men aged between 20 and 40 years, although it is becoming more common in women. It is well established that most such patients smoke heavily and experience an improvement in symptoms following smoking cessation. Mesenteric involvement in Buerger's disease is extremely rare; however, we describe herein two cases of colon ischemia in patients who were previously diagnosed with lower-extremity Buerger's disease. In one case, the patient developed colonic obstruction, and surgical resection was performed. Histopathologic findings were compatible with the chronic stage of Buerger's disease. In the other case, angiography revealed abrupt occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery with numerous collateral vessels, just like the corkscrew appearance found in the extremities. If patients with established Buerger's disease of the extremities complain of gastrointestinal symptoms, early interventional diagnosis should be performed to prevent intestinal obstruction and gangrene.

The Results of Simultaneous Bilateral Internal Iliac Artery and Inferior Mesecteric Artery Ligation during Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

PURPOSE: Bilateral internal iliac artery (IIA) ligation with inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation has been performed during open abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery and endovascular aneurismal repair (EVAR). We reviewed both the acute and long term effects of bilateral IIA ligation with IMA ligation. METHODS: A retrospective cross sectional review was performed on 315 patients who underwent open aneurysmal repair and EVAR between 1997 and 2008. Both IIAs of all the patients' were patent before aortic reconstruction. The patency of the IIAs and the presence of bowel ischemia was evaluated by the medical records on the operative findings, the sigmoidoscopy and the computed tomography. Telephone interviews were performed to assess buttock claudication. RESULTS: The mean age was 68.4 years and 259 patients were male. Unruptured aneurysm was found in 233 patients, ruptured aneurysm was found in 72 patients and impending rupture was found in 10 patients. Unilateral ligation of the IIA was required in 78 patients (24.8%), and bilateral ligation was performed in 43 patients (13.7%). Sigmoid colon ischemia occurred in 8 patients (2.5%), and the IIA was patent in 7 patients. Buttock claudication occurred in 10 out of 178 patients who were contactable on telephone, and the IIA was patent in 8 of these 10 patients. Bowel ischemia and buttock claudication were not significantly associated with the patency of the IIA (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Bilateral IIA ligation with IMA ligation was able to be performed without significantly increasing the incidence of bowel ischemia and buttock claudication. Performing endovascular aneurysmal repair may be considered when bilateral graft extension to the external iliac artery is required.