Symptomatic spontaneous celiac artery dissection treated by conservative management: serial imaging findings.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of clinical characteristics with serial imaging findings of symptomatic spontaneous celiac artery dissection treated by conservative management.


METHODS
Eight consecutive, hemodynamically stable patients with symptomatic spontaneous celiac artery dissection without associated aortic dissection that received non-operative treatments were included in this study. Their clinical characteristics, treatment methods, serial imaging findings and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Acute left flank pain related to splenic infarction was the most common clinical manifestation. Initial contrast-enhanced dynamic computed tomography scan showed celiac artery dissection with partial thrombosis in all eight patients and involvement of branch vessels in 7. Full anticoagulation was carried out immediately after the diagnosis in seven patients. All patients, except one with endovascular stent placement, were asymptomatic after successful conservative management and follow-up computed tomography scan showed preservation of distal perfusion with ongoing regression of false lumen in five patients. After a mean follow-up of 16 months, there was no mortality or morbidity related to the dissection.


CONCLUSIONS
Serial imaging findings showed that conservative management of celiac artery dissection can be performed successfully in selective patients with stable hemodynamics.
Oh
Seonok
S
Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Yong-Pil
YP
Kim
Ji-Hoon
JH
Shin
Sung
S
Kwon
Tae-Won
TW
Ko
Gi-Young
GY
D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003287:Contrast Media; D021501:Flank Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D003287:Contrast Media; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin