Acute Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism With Infective Endocarditis: Is There a Role for Endovascular Treatment?

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to report a case of acute superior mesenteric artery embolism due to infective endocarditis treated with endovascular therapy.

Case report: A patient with infective endocarditis was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain, and abdominal enhanced computer tomography showed acute superior mesenteric artery embolism. He underwent urgent percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy and stenting to open the superior mesenteric artery and restore blood supply to the intestine. However, 17 days after the endovascular treatment, a pseudoaneurysm formed next to the stent, which was eventually removed by open surgery. The patient's prognosis was good at the 1 year follow-up.

Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of acute superior mesenteric artery embolism caused by infective endocarditis was able to rapidly restore the intestinal blood supply. However, the possibility of postoperative pseudoaneurysm needs to be guarded against.

Clinical impact: This study will provide clinical treatment guidance for acute superior mesenteric artery embolism caused by infectious endocarditis. Endovascular treatment may rapidly alleviate intestinal ischemia and reduce the risk of intestinal necrosis, but it cannot completely eliminate infectious emboli, which may lead to further development of pseudoaneurysms.