# Non-occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A young woman with severe traumatic brain injury developed non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia, suggesting a possible link between the two conditions.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case linking severe traumatic brain injury to non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia.

## Key findings

- A patient with severe traumatic brain injury developed non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia.
- Cardiac arrest was attributed to hypoxia from aspiration following NOMI symptoms.
- The case suggests severe traumatic brain injury may be a risk factor for NOMI.

## Abstract

Although various risks associated with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) have been reported, to the best of our knowledge, no report has suggested an association between severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and NOMI. We experienced a case of NOMI in a young woman with no risk except sTBI. A passerby discovered an unresponsive woman lying on the street and summoned emergency medical services. The woman was subsequently transported to our emergency department by ambulance. The patient was diagnosed with sTBI and underwent emergency craniotomy on the same day. After surgery, she was placed under general management in the intensive care unit (ICU). She was discharged from the ICU on postoperative day 9. On postoperative 14, she experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Based on clinical findings, cardiac arrest in this case was attributed to hypoxia due to aspiration caused by abdominal distension and vomiting following the onset of NOMI. This case report suggests that sTBI may be a risk factor for the development of NOMI.