Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis After Bowel Resection in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Mesenteric venous thrombosis

Mesenteric vein thrombosis (MVT) is a rare condition that can present acutely, subacutely, or chronically. MVT can be isolated or within a splanchnic thrombosis (spleno-porto-mesenteric). Symptomatic cases usually present as nonspecific abdominal pain, with or without signs of intestinal ischemia, and the diagnosis is usually made by imaging test (abdominal CT or MRI) in patients with high clinical suspicion. An early clinical-surgical approach is recommended to screen those patients with warning signs and who benefit from an exploratory laparotomy in addition to anticoagulant treatment, which is the cornerstone of medical treatment. MVT is usually associated with prothrombotic states, with hematological disorders (myeloproliferative syndromes and/or JAK2 gene mutations) being of special clinical relevance. On the other hand, the 5-year survival rate is 70-82% and early overall 30-day mortality from MVT can reach 20-32%.

Extended thromboprophylaxis following colorectal surgery in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a comprehensive systematic clinical review

AIM

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) following major abdominal surgery. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and not fully understood. A combination of pathophysiology, patient and surgical risk factors increase the risk of postoperative VTE in these patients. Despite being at increased risk, IBD patients are not regularly prescribed extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis following colorectal surgery. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence-based guidelines. Thus, the aim of this review is to evaluate the role of extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in IBD patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

METHOD

A search of Ovid Medline, EMBASE and PubMed databases was performed. A qualitative analysis was performed using 10 clinical questions developed by colorectal surgeons and a thrombosis haematologist. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was utilized to assess the quality of evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 1229 studies were identified, 38 of which met the final inclusion criteria (37 retrospective, one case-control). Rates of postoperative VTE ranged between 0.6% and 8.9%. Patient-specific risk factors for postoperative VTE included ulcerative colitis, increased age and obesity. Surgery-specific risk factors for postoperative VTE included open surgery, emergent surgery and ileostomy creation. Patients with IBD were more frequently at increased risk in the included studies for postoperative VTE than patients with colorectal cancer. The risk of bias assessment demonstrated low risk of bias in patient selection and comparability, with variable risk of bias in reported outcomes.

CONCLUSION

There is a lack of evidence regarding the use of extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in patients with IBD following colorectal surgery. As these patients are at heightened risk of postoperative VTE, future study and consideration of the use of extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is warranted.

Hybrid Therapy Consisting of Bowel Resection and Fluoroscopic-Assisted Balloon Thrombectomy for Small Bowel Infarction Caused by Acute Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effect of bowel resection combined with fluoroscopic-assisted balloon thrombectomy for small bowel infarction caused by acute mesenteric venous thrombosis (AMVT).

METHODS

Between June 2016 and August 2017, nine patients (seven males and two females; range, 40-73 years; mean, 55.11 ± 10.08 years) with small bowel infarction caused by AMVT underwent bowel resection combined with fluoroscopic-assisted balloon thrombectomy. The demographics, risk factors, therapeutic effect, complications, mortality, and follow-up of the study population were assessed.

RESULTS

The effective rate was 100% with substantial clinical improvement in symptoms. All patients underwent small bowel resection with primary anastomosis. The length of bowel resection ranged from 60 to 170 cm (108.67 ± 35.05). In none of the cases there was surgery with second look. The patients were discharged 13-42 days (20.11 ± 8.75) after admission without perioperative complication or death. The follow-up period was 8-21 months (12.89 ± 4.65), and the follow-up rate was 100%. All patients returned to normal activities, regained lost body weight, and remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination therapy of bowel resection and fluoroscopic-assisted balloon thrombectomy is technically feasible and may be beneficial for small bowel infarction caused by AMVT in removing a thrombus efficiently, relieving symptoms rapidly, averting second-look surgery, lowering extensive surgical resections, and improving the prognosis.

Acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis: transcatheter thrombolysis and aspiration thrombectomy therapy by combined route of superior mesenteric vein and artery in eight patients

PURPOSE

To assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis and aspiration thrombectomy therapy by combined route of superior mesenteric vein and artery (SMV+SMA) for acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (ASMVT).

METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed eight ASMVT patients with transcatheter direct thrombolysis and aspiration thrombectomy therapy via SMV and indirect thrombolysis via SMA during a period of 14 months. The demographics, etiology, risk factors, therapeutic effect, complications, mortality, and follow-up of the study population were assessed. Anatomic and imaging classification of location and extent of thrombus at diagnosis and degree of thrombus lysis were described.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved with substantial improvement in symptoms and thrombus resolution after thrombolytic therapy in all patients. The local urokinase infusion by SMA and SMV was performed for 5-7 (6.13 ± 0.83) and 7-15 (12 ± 2.51) days. Anticoagulation was performed catheter-directed and then orally throughout hospitalization and after discharge. Four patients required delayed localized bowel resection after thrombolytic therapy with no death. Thrombolytic therapy was not interrupted despite minor bleeding at the puncture site in two patients and sepsis in another two postoperatively. Nearly complete removal of thrombus was demonstrated by contrast-enhanced CT scan and portography before discharge. Patients were discharged in 10-27 (19.25 ± 4.89) days after admission. No recurrence developed during the follow-up of 10-13 (12.13 ± 0.99) months.

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter-directed thrombolytic and aspiration therapy via SMV+SMA is beneficial for ASMVT in avoiding patient death, efficient resolving thrombus, rapid improving symptoms, reversing extensive intestinal ischemia, averting bowel resection, or localizing infarcted bowel segment and preventing short bowel syndrome.

Clinical Presentation and Outcome of Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

Mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is an uncommon event. We retrospectively analyzed data for patients who were admitted with MVT between June 2005 and May 2012 in Qatar. The study included 35 patients with a mean age of 45 ± 11 years. The risk of MVT was significantly high among males who smoked and females of Arab ethnicity. The main manifestations of MVT were abdominal distension and vomiting. The major etiological factors included deficiency in protein C and S, homocysteinemia, and prior abdominal surgery. Computed tomography (CT) findings were helpful in 80% of the patients. Bowel resection with primary anastomosis was performed in 25 (71%) patients. The overall mortality rate was 17%. High index of suspicion, detection of risk factors, CT imaging, and timely intervention are essential for better prognosis.