Percutaneous treatment of liver failure and acute mesenteric ischaemia.
BACKGROUND
Synchronous embolism to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and coeliac axis (CA) is a rare disease.


METHODS
A 67-year-old man with atrial fibrillation developed acute liver failure due to an embolic occlusion of the CA and SMA, with a severe coagulation disorder. He was successfully managed with percutaneous stent placement and an exploratory laparotomy was not needed. He remains symptom-free 1 year after the procedure, and duplex follow-up showed stent patency.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular techniques in patients with liver failure, no signs of peritonism, early diagnosis and high operative risk seem feasible and should be used if possible, as first-line option.
Division of Vascular Surgery, Valladolid University Hospital, C/ Ramón y Cajal n°3, 47005 Valladolid, Spain. esannorberto@hotmail.com
E M
EM
San Norberto
V M
VM
Gutiérrez
J A
JA
González-Fajardo
J
J
Chehayeb
M A
MA
Ibáñez
C
C
Vaquero
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D065666:Mesenteric Ischemia; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*