Idiopathic mesenteric venous thrombosis: report of a case.
BACKGROUND
Idiopathic mesenteric venous thrombosis is a rare entity. An early diagnosis and thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy are very important.


METHODS
We report a case of a patient, without any specific known risk factor, with small intestinal ischemia secondary to superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (SMVT).


RESULTS
In our case, only a computed tomography (CT) abdominal scan permitted the diagnosis of SMVT. The patient was successfully treated by resection of the infarcted bowel with primary anastomosis and immediate postoperative anticoagulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnosis of intestinal ischemia from mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is often delayed because the symptoms are nonspecific. Moreover, when there is not any known predisposing factor, the diagnosis may become even more difficult with significant morbidity and mortality. CT abdominal scan done early in case of nonspecific abdominal pain, since the patients had a previous history of venous thrombosis, may not require a surgical treatment of MVT.
Dobrinja
C
C
Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Division of Clinical Surgery, Hospital of Cattinara, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste, Italy. ch_dobrinja@yahoo.it
Trevisan
G
G
Petronio
B
B
Liguori
G
G
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008642:Mesenteric Veins; D008875:Middle Aged; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin