Ischemic Ileitis for Thrombosis in the Peripheral Superior Mesenteric Artery

Yoshito Akagi, Takashi Fukushima, Hiroshi Oku, Susumu Sueyoshi, Masamitsu Kanazawa, Hiroki Takamiya, Teruo Kakegawa*

Department of Surgery, Oomuta Municipal Hospital
*The First Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine

It is difficult to diagnose a thrombosis in the mesenteric artery. However, it is particularly important to have a timely diagnosis to decrease the high fatality rate associated with this condition. The condition often occurs in cases of thrombophilia or basal disease such as heart disease. Here we report the case of a 51-year-old woman with no other risk factor who had a thrombotic lesion in the peripheral mesenterium artery of the ileum. In this case, an early diagnosis was not available, because symptoms had not been evident. At 15 hours after admission, we first noticed the melena, and this condition was then suspected. As the defense musculaire had already appeared, laparotomy was performed. The cause remained unknown in this case, but it was thought that the blood vessels and intestine were factors in the mechanism of occurrence. Even if a patient with acute abdominal pain is not old and has no basal disease, we should consider this disease in the diferential diagnosis.

Key words
acute abdominal pain, ischemic ileitis, peripheral superior mesenteric arterial thrombosis

Reprint requests
Yoshito Akagi The First Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine
67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, 830 JAPAN

Accepted
June 14, 1995

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