Small bowel obstruction secondary to atheromatous embolism.

Cholesterol crystal embolization is a well-known disorder resulting from re lease of cholesterol crystals from ulcered atherosclerotic plaques. Gastroi ntestinal involvement occurs in about a third of cases, but it is usually a symtomatic. We report a case of an old woman with small bowel obstruction s econdary to atheromatous embolism. She was treated by acenocoumarol for atr ial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism. Two weeks before admission for sma ll bowel obstruction, she had a watery diarrhea. After 3 weeks of parentera l nutrition, she underwent resection of the involved ileum. Pathological ex amination showed a small bowel stricture secondary to atheromatous embolism . Cholesterol emboli should be considered as a potential cause of small bow el obstruction in old patient who has taken anticoagulant therapy or after vascular invasive procedure.