title: Failure of nonoperative management of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection.
abstract: A case of isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery is presented here. This rare condition was confirmed angiographically in a 46-year-old man with persistent abdominal pain. He was treated initially with anticoagulation alone. One year later, he developed recurrent symptoms and had radiologic documentation of progression of the condition. Operative repair was performed and recovery was uneventful. This case demonstrates a failure of the nonoperative approach to this rare condition and suggests that disease progression may be inevitable. Early surgical correction may ease operative management.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery, San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center, La Jolla, and Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bergan
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants