The Management of Superior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm: Experience with 16 Cases in a Single Center.
BACKGROUND
Superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (SMAA) represents a rare but potentially fatal condition. This study aimed to present the individual management protocol of SMAA in our center and to discuss a potential preliminary treatment algorithm.


METHODS
SMAA patients treated in our center between January 2007 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed on January 2015.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients with SMAA were identified, including 1 female and 15 males, with a mean age of 48.9 ± 12.9 years. Three patients (3/16, 18.8%) were treated by multiple overlapping bare stents and one (1/16, 6.3%) initially by a single bare stent. Two cases (2/16, 12.5%) were treated by a covered stent implantation, but one of those suffered from SMAA rupture 7 days later, whereas the other had inner-stent thrombosis one month after discharge and died from multiple organ-dysfunction syndrome. Nine patients (9/16, 56.2%) received conservative therapy, one of who received multiple overlapping bare stents implantations for persistent abdominal pain. One patient underwent open surgery. There were 2 major complications, with no death during hospitalization and 1 death during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
SMAA treatment needs to be individually prescribed, based on clinical manifestation, anatomy, and etiology. Multiple overlapping bare stents are safe and effective in selective patients with SMAA, and covered stents should be used with caution to avoid covering proximal branches; open surgery should be reserved for patients with suspected intestinal necrosis.
Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Li
L
Zilun
Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Yin
Y
Henghui
Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Zhao
Z
Yang
Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Wang
W
Mian
Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: 13922231628@163.com.
Chang
C
Guangqi
Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: 924129591@qq.com.
Wang
W
Shenming
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002681:China; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult