Primary stenting of the superior mesenteric artery for treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia - A case report

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has been well described in the treatment of mesenteric artery stenoses but has met with limited success in ostial lesions. The authors describe a case of a 79-year-old woman diagnos ed with chronic mesenteric ischemia associated with a 22-pound weight loss and postprandial pain. The celiac axis and inferior mesenteric artery were occluded. A high-grade, calcified stenosis was present in the proximal supe rior mesenteric artery. This was treated with primary stent placement using a Palmaz stent deployed from an axillary approach. A brief discussion of m esenteric ischemic and visceral artery PTA is included.