Idiopathic superior mesenteric venous thrombosis requiring bowel resection: a report of four cases

TL;DR

This paper reports four cases where superior mesenteric venous thrombosis required bowel resection despite initial treatments.

Contribution

The paper highlights the need for bowel resection in idiopathic SMVT cases showing peritoneal irritation despite anticoagulation therapy.

Findings

Anticoagulation therapy was ineffective in cases with peritoneal irritation and bowel ischemia.

Bowel resection was necessary in four cases of idiopathic SMVT with worsening symptoms.

Idiopathic SMVT can progress to irreversible bowel damage requiring surgical intervention.

Abstract

Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (SMVT) is mostly treated with anticoagulation therapy; however, SMVT can lead to irreversible bowel ischemia and require bowel resection in the acute or subacute phase.

We report four cases of SMVT that required careful observation and bowel resection. Case 1: A 71-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting that showed a completely occluded SMV with thrombus and small bowel ischemia. Case 2: A 47-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, peritoneal irritation symptoms, and a completely occluded SMV with thrombus, ischemia of the small bowel, and massive ascites. Case 3: A 68-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and vomiting for several days and showed a partially occluded SMV with a thrombus, bowel ischemia, and massive ascites. Case 4: A 68-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain and a partially occluded SMV with thrombus and bowel edema without ischemic changes. Anticoagulation therapy was administered; however, 3 days later, abdominal pain and bowel ischemia worsened. Bowel resection was performed in all cases.

Most idiopathic SMVT cases can be treated with anticoagulation therapy or endovascular thrombectomy. However, in cases with peritoneal irritation signs, these treatments may be ineffective, and bowel resection may be required.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40792-024-01916-8.

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