Idiopathic superior mesenteric venous thrombosis requiring bowel resection: a report of four cases.

BACKGROUND: Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) is mostly treated with anticoagulation therapy; however, SMVT can lead to irreversible bowel ischemia and require bowel resection in the acute or subacute phase. CASE PRESENTATION: We report four cases of SMVT that required careful observation and bowel resection. Case 1: A 71-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting that showed a completely occluded SMV with thrombus and small bowel ischemia. Case 2: A 47-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, peritoneal irritation symptoms, and a completely occluded SMV with thrombus, ischemia of the small bowel, and massive ascites. Case 3: A 68-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and vomiting for several days and showed a partially occluded SMV with a thrombus, bowel ischemia, and massive ascites. Case 4: A 68-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain and a partially occluded SMV with thrombus and bowel edema without ischemic changes. Anticoagulation therapy was administered; however, 3 days later, abdominal pain and bowel ischemia worsened. Bowel resection was performed in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Most idiopathic SMVT cases can be treated with anticoagulation therapy or endovascular thrombectomy. However, in cases with peritoneal irritation signs, these treatments may be ineffective, and bowel resection may be required.

Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis: Endovascular management and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) is a rare but fatal condition that is typically treated initially with anticoagulation therapy, and if this fails, with endovascular interventions. However, due to its rarity, there are not many studies that have explored the effectiveness of anticoagulation and endovascular therapies in treating SMVT. AIM: To evaluate patients diagnosed with SMVT who received endovascular therapy in addition to anticoagulation and report technical and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the patients who underwent endovascular treatment for SMVT at Mayo Clinic from 2000-2019 was performed. Technical success was defined as angiographic improvement in SMV flow after intervention. Primary patency was defined as the interval from reestablishing mesenteric venous flow until the first repeat thrombotic event or need for additional intervention. Secondary patency was defined as successful restoration of flow after repeat intervention until rethrombosis or last follow-up. The adverse events were reported through Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were included for analysis. The median age at intervention was 60 years (35-74 years) and 16 (67%) were men. Nineteen patients presented with acute thrombosis (79.2%) and 5 with chronic thrombosis with acute manifestations (20.8%). The most commonly used endovascular modalities were thrombectomy in 12 patients (50.0%) and catheter-directed thrombolysis in 10 patients (41.7%). Technical success was achieved in 18 patients (75%). The 14-d and 30-d primary patency rates were 88.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Adverse events were reported in two patients (8.3%), one marked as grade IIIB, and 1 death marked as grade V. Five-year overall survival rate was 82% (58%-100%). CONCLUSION: Endovascular intervention with anticoagulation appears to be effective for managing SMVT. This treatment combination may be considered as first-line therapy for SMVT management in select patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on endovascular treatment as an attractive alternative for acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the published data on the efficacy and safety of therapies for superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT), aiming to provide a reference and set of recommendations for clinical treatment. METHODS: Relevant databases were searched for studies published from 2000 to June 2020 on SMVT treated with conservative treatment, surgical treatment, or endovascular approach. Different treatment types were grouped for analysis and comparison, and odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The outcomes were pooled using meta-analytic methods and presented by forest plots. RESULTS: Eighteen articles, including eight on SMVT patients treated with endovascular therapies, were enrolled. The treatment effectiveness was compared between different groups according to the change of symptoms, the occurrence of complications, and mortality as well. The conservative treatment group had better efficacy compared to the surgery group (89.0% vs. 78.6%, P <0.05), and the one-year survival rate was also higher (94.4% vs. 80.0%, P >0.05), but without statistical significance. As for endovascular treatment, the effectiveness was significantly higher than the surgery group (94.8% vs. 75.2%, P <0.05), and the conservative treatment group as well (93.3% vs. 86.3%, P >0.05), which still requires further research for the lack of statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Present findings indicate that anticoagulation, as conservative treatment should be the preferred clinical option in the clinic for SMVT, due to its better curative effect compared to other treatment options, including lower mortality, fewer complications, and better prognosis. Moreover, endovascular treatment is a feasible and promising approach that is worth in-depth research, for it is less invasive than surgery and has relatively better effectiveness, thus can provide an alternative option for SMVT treatment and may be considered as a reliable method in clinical.

Nomogram for predicting transmural bowel infarction in patients with acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) caused by superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) remains undetermined and early detection of transmural bowel infarction (TBI) is crucial. The predisposition to develop TBI is of clinical concern, which can lead to fatal sepsis with hemodynamic instability and multi-organ failure. Early resection of necrotic bowel could improve the prognosis of AMI, however, accurate prediction of TBI remains a challenge for clinicians. When determining the eligibility for explorative laparotomy, the underlying risk factors for bowel infarction should be fully evaluated. AIM: To develop and externally validate a nomogram for prediction of TBI in patients with acute SMVT. METHODS: Consecutive data from 207 acute SMVT patients at the Wuhan Tongji Hospital and 89 patients at the Guangzhou Nanfang Hospital between July 2005 and December 2018 were included in this study. They were grouped as training and external validation cohort. The 207 cases (training cohort) from Tongji Hospital were divided into TBI and reversible intestinal ischemia groups based on the final therapeutic outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent risk factors for TBI using the training data, and a nomogram was subsequently developed. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated with respect to discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness in the training and external validation cohort. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the following independent prognostic factors associated with TBI in the training cohort: The decreased bowel wall enhancement (OR = 6.37, P < 0.001), rebound tenderness (OR = 7.14, P < 0.001), serum lactate levels > 2 mmol/L (OR = 3.14, P = 0.009) and previous history of deep venous thrombosis (OR = 6.37, P < 0.001). Incorporating these four factors, the nomogram achieved good calibration in the training set [area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) 0.860; 95%CI: 0.771-0.925] and the external validation set (AUC 0.851; 95%CI: 0.796-0.897). The positive and negative predictive values (95%CIs) of the nomogram were calculated, resulting in positive predictive values of 54.55% (40.07%-68.29%) and 53.85% (43.66%-63.72%) and negative predictive values of 93.33% (82.14%-97.71%) and 92.24% (85.91%-95.86%) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Based on the nomogram, patients who had a Nomo-score of more than 90 were considered to have high risk for TBI. Decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram was clinically useful. CONCLUSION: The nomogram achieved an optimal prediction of TBI in patients with AMI. Using the model, the risk for an individual patient inclined to TBI can be assessed, thus providing a rational therapeutic choice.

Management of superior mesenteric venous thrombus in cystic fibrosis related liver disease.

Abdominal pain is a common feature in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and CF related liver disease (CFLD). Superior mesenteric venous (SMV) thrombosis is an uncommon but important cause of abdominal pain. Management strategies are complicated by an underlying prothrombotic state and increased risk of bleeding from complications of CF and CFLD. This review addresses clinical presentation, detection and management options of an acute SMV thrombus in the context of CF.

Successful Nonsurgical Treatment of Acute Peritonitis Caused by a Large Thrombosis of the Superior Mesenteric Vein in a 25-year-old Woman.

Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT), which results from various etiologies, including coagulation disorders, can be diagnosed early using advanced imaging technology. However, few reports have described the nonsurgical treatment of acute peritonitis caused by SMVT. We encountered a young woman whose history included abdominal pain and daily oral contraceptives and who presented with acute peritonitis caused by SMVT. We administered nonsurgical treatment that included thrombolysis and anticoagulation for the peritonitis (without mesenteric ischemia as confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography). In addition, we showed the importance of investigating persistent risk factors for thromboembolism in young patients to determine the duration of anticoagulation.

A Case of Superior Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Managed by Thrombectomy without Bowel Resection.

We present a case of superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) treated successfully with thrombectomy without bowel resection. A 73-year-old female was referred to our hospital with complaints of stomach ache. The patient was diagnosed with SMVT with impending bowel necrosis and underwent an emergency operation, after computed tomography (CT) revealed a thrombus in the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) extending to the splenic vein, ascites, and extremely edematous intestines. The intestines were not necrotic though highly congested. To avoid massive bowel resection, aggressive thrombectomy was performed. Postoperative CT confirmed resolved SMV and improved bowel edema. Prompt thrombectomy should be considered in such cases.

Early initiation of argatroban therapy in the management of acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (ASMVT) is an intractable disease with poor prognosis. Argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, may be a novel anticoagulant method in the therapy of ASMVT. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of early argatroban therapy in ASMVT patients. The current retrospective study reviewed a consecutive series of ASMVT patients receiving early argatroban therapy during hospitalization between March 2013 and April 2014, with 18 ASMVT patients included in the study. Of these, 16 patients without hepatic dysfunction underwent anticoagulant therapy with argatroban with a mean dose of 1.57±0.34 µg/kg/min and a mean duration of 12.2±3.7 days, while their activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was elevated to 1.95±0.26 times the baseline value. In addition, 2 hepatic dysfunction patients received therapy with a dose of 0.41 µg/kg/min and 0.46 µg/kg/min, and with aPTT of 1.68 and 1.62 times the baseline value, respectively. Overall, 94% (n=17) of the patients presented clinical improvement, while 88% (n=16) of patients presented partially or completely dissolved thrombus in contrast-enhanced computed tomography images. The incidence of surgery and bowel resection was 6% (excluding 1 case with intestinal necrosis detected on admission). Furthermore, 11% (n=2) of patients experienced a bleeding episode, however no major bleeding or mortality occurred during hospitalization. During the follow-up, the mortality and the recurrence rate were 6% and 11%, respectively. In conclusion, early initiation of argatroban treatment may be an effective and safe therapy in ASMVT, manifesting efficient resolution of the thrombus, rapid improvement of symptoms, low incidence of bowel resection and bleeding complication, and low mortality rate.

A rare cause of gastro-intestinal hemorrhage in a patient with a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

This case illustrates a rare cause of gastro-intestinal bleeding following bariatric surgery. Though it is essential to rule out common causes of variceal formation accompanied by intermittent, profuse bleeding, there should be a high degree of suspicion of this rare etiology in patients who have previously undergone alteration of their anatomy, especially Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The case emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary medical-surgical team in evaluating and treating patients who present with complex intra-abdominal pathology.

Transcatheter thrombolysis combined with damage control surgery for treatment of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis associated with bowel necrosis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of transcatheter thrombolysis in acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (ASMVT) associated with bowel necrosis. METHODS: A retrospective study of six patients with ASMVT treated with catheter-directed thrombectomy/thrombolysis and damage control surgery at Jinling Hospital (Nanjing, China) between 2010 and 2013 was conducted. Demographics, past medical history, risk factors, therapeutic methods and effects, mortality, and follow-up of the study population were assessed. RESULTS: Five of six patients underwent arteriovenous combined thrombolysis, while one patient underwent arterial thrombolysis. All patients required damage control surgery, and four of these patients underwent temporary abdominal closure. All patients survived and were free of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter thrombectomy/thrombolysis and damage control surgery could help avoid extensive bowel resection, prevent short bowel syndrome and reduce mortality for critically ill patients with acute mesenteric venous thrombosis associated with bowel necrosis.

Protein C deficiency related obscure gastrointestinal bleeding treated by enteroscopy and anticoagulant therapy.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is an uncommonly encountered and difficult-to-treat clinical problem in gastroenterology, but advancements in endoscopic and radiologic imaging modalities allow for greater accuracy in diagnosing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Ectopic varices account for less than 5% of all variceal bleeding cases, and jejunal variceal bleeding due to extrahepatic portal hypertension is rare. We present a 47-year-old man suffering from obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed multiple vascular tufts around the proximal jejunum but no evidence of cirrhosis, and a visible hypodense filling defect suggestive of thrombus was visible in the superior mesenteric vein. Enteroscopy revealed several serpiginous varices in the proximal jejunum. Serologic data disclosed protein C deficiency (33.6%). The patient was successfully treated by therapeutic balloon-assisted enteroscopy and long-term anticoagulant therapy, which is normally contraindicated in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnostic modalities for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, such as capsule endoscopy, computed tomography enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, and enteroscopy, were also reviewed in this article.

Initial transcatheter thrombolysis for acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.

AIM: To determine the optimal initial treatment modality for acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (ASMVT) in patients with circumscribed peritonitis. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of the Vascular Surgery Department's medical records to identify adult patients (≥ 18 years old) presenting with circumscribed peritonitis and diagnosed with ASMVT by imaging or endoscopic examination. Patients were selected from the time period between October 2009 and October 2012 to assess the overall performance of a new first-line treatment policy implemented in May 2011 for patients with circumscribed peritonitis, which recommends transcatheter thrombolysis with local anticoagulation and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy. Of the 25 patients selected for study inclusion, 12 had undergone emergency surgical exploration (group 1) and 13 had undergone the initial catheter-directed thrombolysis (group 2). Data extracted from each patient's records for statistical analyses included method of diagnosis, symptoms, etiology and risk factors, thrombus location, initial management, morbidity, mortality, duration and total cost of hospitalization (in Renminbi, RMB), secondary operation, total length of bowel resection, duration of and findings in follow-up, and death/survival. RESULTS: The two treatment groups showed similar rates of morbidity, 30-d mortality, and 1-year survival, as well as similar demographic characteristics, etiology or risk factors, computed tomography characteristics, symptoms, findings of blood testing at admission, complications, secondary operations, and follow-up outcomes. In contrast, the patients who received the initial non-operative treatment of transcatheter thrombolysis had significantly shorter durations of admission to symptom elimination (group 1: 18.25 ± 7.69 d vs group 2: 7.23 ± 2.42 d) and hospital stay (43.00 ± 13.77 d vs 20.46 ± 6.59 d), and early enteral or oral nutrition restoration (20.50 ± 5.13 d vs 8.92 ± 1.89 d), as well as significantly less total length of bowel resection (170.83 ± 61.27 cm vs 29.23 ± 50.24 cm) and lower total cost (200020.4 ± 91505.62 RMB vs 72785.6 ± 21828.16 RMB) (P < 0.05 for all). Statistical analyses suggested that initial transcatheter thrombolysis is correlated with quicker resolution of the thrombus, earlier improvement of symptoms, stimulation of collateral vessel development, reversal of intestinal ischemia, receipt of localizing bowel resection to prevent short bowel syndrome, shorter hospitalization, and lower overall cost of treatment. CONCLUSION: For ASMVT patients with circumscribed peritonitis, early diagnosis is key to survival, and non-operative transcatheter thrombolysis is feasible and effective as an initial treatment.

Transcatheter thrombolysis centered stepwise management strategy for acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (ASMVT) is a rare but potentially lethal abdominal calamity. Outcome depends on prompt recognition and revascularization before progresses to bowel gangrene. Despite better understanding of pathogenesis and development of modern treatment technique, management of ASMVT remains a great clinical challenge. Transcatheter thrombolysis as the main revascularization method, combined with mechanical thrombectomy and other endovascular manipulations, alone or as a hybrid procedure, has got favorable outcomes. Thus on the basis of early diagnosis and close evaluation of intestinal ischemia and thrombus evolution, a coordinated stepwise management strategy involving a specialized approach of initial anticoagulation, preferred endovascular therapy, and damage-control surgery modality with surgical thrombectomy, may show benefits in rapid revascularization, prompt symptom improvement, and short bowel syndrome avoidance, with shortened hospitalization and less cost. This article presents an evidence-based review of the state-of-the-art advancements of this transcatheter thrombolysis centered stepwise management strategy for ASMVT.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis via superior mesenteric vein and artery / 医学研究生学报

Objective Transcatheter thrombolysis is an important method for early recanalization of acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT), which is conducted mainly through percutaneous transhepatic , transjugular intrahepatic, or superior mesen-teric artery approach .This study is to assess the feasibility , effectiveness and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis via the superior mesenteric vein and artery for acute SMVT . Methods We retrospectively reviewed 8 cases of acute extensive SMVT treated by tran-scatheter thrombolysis via superior mesenteric vein and artery in our institute .We collected and analyzed the general information , case history, etiology, risk factors, imaging characteristics, treatment procedures, complications, and follow-up data of the patients summa-rized the experience in the treatment of acute extensive SMVT by catheter-directed thrombolysis . Results Technical success was a-chieved with substantial symptoms improvement after thrombolytic therapy in all the cases .The local urokinase infusion via the superior mesenteric artery and vein was performed for (6.13 ±0.83) and (12 ±2.51) d.Four patients required delayed localized bowel resection of (1.63 ±0.48) m, with satisfactory recovery after intensive care and organ function support .Contrast-enhanced CT scan and portogra-phy demonstrated complete thrombus resolution in all the patients before discharged after a hospital stay of (19.25 ±4.89) d.Minor bleeding at the puncture site occurred in 2 cases and sepsis developed in another 2 postoperatively .No recurrence and complications were ob-served during the follow-up of (12.13 ±0.99) mo. Conclusion For acute extensive SMVT , catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy via superior mesenteric vein and artery can accelerate thrombus resolution , stimulate collateral vessel development , reverse extensive intestinal is-chemia, avert bowel resection , localize infarcted bowel segment to pre-vent short bowel syndrome , and effectively speed up the recovery and significantly increase the survival rate of the patients .

Imaging diagnosis of portal vein stricture complicated with superior mesenteric venous thrombosis after liver transplantation / 中华消化外科杂志

Portal vein stricture complicated with superior mesenteric venous thrombosis is rarely seen in clinical practice. On December 26, 2009, a 51-year-old male patient who had a liver transplantation history was admitted to The General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces with the chief complaint of intermittent abdominal pain and diarrhea.A plain and enhanced CT scan showed that the portal vein was constrictive and thrombosis had formed in the main trunk of the superior mesenteric vein, and varicose veins were seen in surrounding tissues of the esophagus. Edema was observed at the end of the ileum and cecum. The results of colonoscopy showed inflammatory changes and varicose veins of the colon. The patient received medical treatment. The thrombosis was dissolved 9 days later, and all symptoms disappeared 12 days later.

Establishment of animal model of superior mesenteric vein-portal vein thrombosis / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To assess the feasibility of interventional techniques in the establishment of animal model of superior mesenteric vein-portal vein (SMV-PV) thrombosis. Methods Nine miniature pigs were involved in the study including one for preliminary experiment. After general anesthesia, a balloon catheter was placed in the main trunk of PV to block the portal flow and then thrombin or autologous blood clot was injected to the SMV. Venography was performed to confirm the thrombosis 30 minutes later. Changes in the imaging before and after the thrombosis were observed. Pigs died during the experiment were anatomized to analyze the causes, and pathological examination was performed when necessary. Results The model of SMV-PV thrombosis was successfully established in all the pigs. One pig died of diffuse intravascular coagulation 10 minutes after model establishment in the preliminary experiment. Two pigs died of hepatorrhexis and over dose of anesthetics respec-tively 3 hours after model establishment, and the rest 6 pigs were fed for 14 days. Conclusion Interventional techniques are effective in the establishment of SMV-PV thrombosis model.