Superior mesenteric and renal artery embolism during PTA and re-stenting of infrarenal abdominal aorta - Report of a case and review of the literature

The authors report a case of acute superior mesenteric and right renal arte ry embolism that occurred during an interventional radiological procedure o n the abdominal aorta of a young diabetic woman. The onset of a severe abdo minal pain during the procedure evoked the clinical suspicion of intestinal ischemia related to the dislodgement of atheroembolic material into the me senteric artery; the event was correctly diagnosed, but the surgical therap y was delayed by many hours because of the fact that the patient was in a p eripheral hospital of the region and had to be transferred to our Instituti on Fortunately in spite of the considerable delay, the operation was fully successful, probably because of the favourable location of the embolus, whi ch allowed collateral splanchnic circulation to maintain a good metabolic b alance.