Percutaneous Aspiration Embolectomy Using Guiding Catheter for the Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism

Interventional Radiology in Treating Acute Mesenteric Arterial Occlusion: A Narrative Review

Acute mesenteric arterial occlusion, resulting from impaired blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery, is classified into embolism and thrombosis; both conditions lead to rapid intestinal ischemia, with a high mortality rate of >30% within 30 days. A multidisciplinary treatment approach, including prompt revascularization, necrotic intestinal tract resection, intensive postoperative care, and recurrence prevention, is crucial for managing acute mesenteric arterial occlusion. Recent meta-analyses have indicated that endovascular treatments result in lower bowel resection and mortality rates than open revascularization. As a minimally invasive treatment option, endovascular therapy can become prevalent in the aging population. Interventional radiologists who provide diagnostic imaging and endovascular procedures must understand the disease and play a central role in the treatment team.

Diagnosis and management of acute mesenteric ischemia: What you need to know

ABSTRACT

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is associated with high mortality rates. There are multiple challenges to establishing an accurate early diagnosis and providing state-of-the-art care for AMI patients. A high index of suspicion is key for early diagnosis. Once suspicion is raised, a triphasic computed tomography angiography is the essential diagnostic tool. Avoiding delays, using hybrid operating rooms and contemporary revascularization techniques for arterial occlusive AMI, can significantly improve the prognosis. Regional health care systems should be developed to direct AMI patients into centers with sufficient capabilities for providing all aspects of care at all hours. The acute care surgeon has a central role in performing laparotomies and bowel resections when needed and coordinating the management flow in close collaboration with vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists for prompt and effective revascularization. A significant share of patients with an arterial occlusive AMI can be managed by endovascular revascularization without the need for a laparotomy. There are no reliable tools for predicting transmural bowel necrosis, and individual assessment and clinical experience are very important in decision-making when choosing between laparotomy and close observation. During laparotomy, an atherosclerotic occlusion at the root of the superior mesenteric artery can be stented by using a retrograde open mesenteric or percutaneous approach, and surgical bypass is seldom needed. Using hospital-specific management pathways is very useful for the standardization of care in arterial occlusive AMI. In venous AMI, systemic anticoagulation is sufficient in most cases. In patients whose symptoms do not resolve, there are various options for endovascular and surgical revascularization. In nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia, prevention by maintaining sufficient abdominal perfusion pressure is key. High-level evidence is scarce, but with current knowledge, the prognosis of AMI patients has plenty of room for improvement.

Acute mesenteric ischaemia in the elderly - results of combined endovascular and surgical treatment. Primary study

Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a sudden onset of impaired bowel perfusion. Has a high mortality rate and is difficult to diagnose. Therapy involves endovascular, surgical, or a combination of both. Because of baseline differences, the comparison between endovascular and open surgical treatment is subject to selection bias. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of AMI by open or endovascular approach in combination with laparotomy, and evaluation of treatment strategy in similar situations. Clinical data from 21 patients treated for AMI between 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed and compared. The primary endpoint of the study was in-hospital mortality. The secondary endpoint was the statistical evaluation of risk factors for mortality. All patients underwent acute endovascular revascularisation. Aspiration thromboembolectomy was performed in nine patients, stenting in seven, PTA in one and surgery in three. Endovascular therapy was unsuccessful for technical reasons in 3 patients. None of the monitored parameters reached statistical significance. The best results were achieved in the early diagnosis group. The overall mortality of acute mesenteric ischaemia in our cohort was 34.8%. Acute mesenteric ischaemia is a serious condition affecting mainly elderly patients with a high mortality rate, but the diagnosis of mesenteric ischaemia is not an automatic death sentence. To achieve the best therapeutic outcome, mesenteric ischaemia needs to be diagnosed and treated at an early stage. The best therapeutic outcomes are achieved in centres with 24-hour access to endovascular revascularisation and surgical therapy.

Microcatheter-Directed Thrombolysis Using Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator for the Treatment of Acute Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism: A Case Report

Background: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a life-threatening condition, and in 50% of patients, AMI is caused by acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) embolism. Endovascular treatment is increasingly being considered the primary modality in selected cases. Many studies have reported that percutaneous aspiration embolectomy using a guiding catheter and thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) are effective in treating SMA embolism. However, no reports on treating SMA embolism using rtPA administered via a microcatheter exist. Case presentation: A 64-year-old man with underlying atrial fibrillation presented with acute SMA embolism revealed using computed tomography (CT). rtPA (total 3 mg) was carefully administered into the occluded SMA through a microcatheter. No complications occurred, and complete revascularization of the SMA was revealed on follow-up CT. Conclusions: Compared with previous reports, this case report reveals that successful revascularization can be achieved using rtPA administered via a microcatheter, with a low dose of rtPA and a short duration of thrombolysis.

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in the management of early acute superior mesenteric artery embolism

PURPOSE

This study was performed to summarize our experience in the management of early-stage acute superior mesenteric artery embolism (ASMAE) by percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT).

METHODS

The clinical data of 12 patients with early-stage ASMAE treated by PMT in our institution from November 2019 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients had no obvious evidence of bowel infarction as shown by peritoneal puncture and computed tomography angiography. Thrombectomy of the superior mesenteric artery was performed using a 6F AngioJet catheter.

RESULTS

The emboli were completely removed in 10 (83.3%) patients. Six patients were treated only by the AngioJet device. The other six patients underwent combined treatment with a 6F multipurpose drainage catheter after PMT, including one patient who underwent simultaneous stent implantation. Two patients showed no significant improvement in their symptoms after the operation; one was found to have intestinal necrosis and underwent resection by exploratory laparotomy, and the other died of septic shock 3 days after PMT (further intervention had been discontinued because of complications with multiple underlying diseases). No other PMT-related complications occurred. Only one patient was found to have a pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery 1 week after PMT and underwent resection by exploratory laparotomy. The 11 surviving patients were smoothly discharged from the hospital after their symptoms were relieved. At a mean follow-up of 13.2 months, computed tomography angiography showed smooth patency of the superior mesenteric artery. No patients developed serious symptoms during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

PMT by the AngioJet device is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective technique to remove ASMAE. Early application of PMT can avoid acute intestinal necrosis. Combining the AngioJet device with a 6F multipurpose drainage catheter might be more helpful to remove residual emboli.

Outcomes of different acute mesenteric ischemia therapies in the last 20 years: A meta-analysis and systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a disease with high morbidity and mortality, and it is traditionally treated with open surgery. Endovascular therapy and hybrid techniques are alternative treatments that are also currently available. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the outcomes of the different treatment approaches in the last 20 years.

METHODS

Studies on acute mesenteric ischemia that were indexed in PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases (from January 1, 2000, to April 1, 2021) were reviewed. All related retrospective observational studies and case series were included. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates, and the results were reported as proportions and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In our study, a total of 2369 patients (in 39 studies) underwent endovascular, open surgery, or retrograde open mesenteric stenting. The pooled mortality estimates for open surgery, endovascular therapy, and retrograde open mesenteric stenting were 40% (95% CI, 0.33-0.47; I² = 84%), 26% (95% CI, 0.19-0.33; I² = 33%), and 32% (95% CI, 0.21-0.44; I² = 26%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality associated with open surgical treatment, endovascular therapy, and retrograde open mesenteric stenting tend to be similar in the last 20 years.

Endovascular therapy in acute mesenteric ischemia after coronary artery bypass grafting: a case report and literature review

In the pattern of abdominal complications after cardiac surgery, acute mesenteric ischemia is rare but high-mortality pathology. In the initial stages, the disease has no specific signs, which makes it difficult to perform early multislice computed tomography to diagnose it. Risk stratification and an individual approach to the choice of diagnostic and therapeutic measures aimed at early restoration of mesenteric blood flow will reduce the mortality in this complication.

A case of endovascular treatment for intestinal ischemia due to acute superior mesenteric artery embolism after TEVAR

Recently, the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for the treatment of aortic aneurysm is increasing. Therefore, complications associated with TEVAR are expected to increase. Here, we present a case of thrombus aspiration and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for superior mesenteric artery (SMA) embolism after TEVAR. A 69-year-old male patient with an aortic arch aneurysm received TEVAR. On the fourth post-operative day, he suddenly complained of strong abdominal pain. Since enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed SMA embolism, we urgently performed thrombus aspiration and PTA in two consecutive days. After these operations, almost all revascularization was achieved, although a partial occlusion remained. As a result, his symptoms improved, and no recurrence occurred. With the increased use of TEVAR, associated embolism may also increase. The combination of thrombus aspiration and PTA could be one effective option for such cases.

Aspiration therapy for acute embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery

BACKGROUND

Embolic superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion is associated with high mortality rates. Delayed treatment often leads to serious consequences, including intestinal necrosis, resection, and even patient death. Endovascular repair is being introduced, which can improve clinical symptoms and prognosis and decrease the incidence of exploratory laparotomy. Many reports have described successful endovascular revascularization of embolic SMA occlusion. However, most of those reports are case reports, and there are few reports on Chinese patients. In this paper, we describe the technical and clinical outcomes of aspiration therapy using a guiding catheter and long sheath technique which facilitates the endovascular repair procedure.

AIM

To evaluate the complications, feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of endovascular treatment for the acute embolic occlusion of the SMA.

METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed eight patients (six males and two females) from August 2013 to October 2018 at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. The patients presented with acute embolic occlusion of the SMA on admission and were initially diagnosed by computed tomography angiography (CTA). The patients who underwent endovascular treatment with a guiding catheter had no obvious evidence of bowel infarct. No intestinal necrosis was identified by gastrointestinal surgeons through peritoneal puncture or CTA. The complications, feasibility, effectiveness, safety, and mortality were assessed.

RESULTS

Six (75%) patients were male, and the mean patient age was 70.00 ± 8.43 years (range, 60-84 years). The acute embolic occlusion of the SMA was initially diagnosed by CTA. All patients had undertaken anticoagulation primarily, and percutaneous aspiration using a guiding catheter was then undertaken because the emboli had large amounts of thrombus residue. No death occurred among the patients. Complete patency of the suffering artery trunk was achieved in six patients, and defect filling was accomplished in two patients. The in-hospital mortality was 0%. The overall 12-mo survival rate was 100%. All patients survived, and two of the eight patients had complications (the clot broke off during aspiration).

CONCLUSION

Aspiration therapy is feasible, safe, and beneficial for acute embolic SMA occlusion. Aspiration therapy has many benefits for reducing patients’ death, resolving thrombi, and improving symptoms.

Endovascular Renal Artery Stent Retriever Embolectomy in a Young Patient With Cardiac Myxoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Purpose:

Cardiac myxomas are common tumors of the heart with disproportionate impact on young patients, occasionally with dramatic systemic dissemination of tumor emboli with catastrophic multiorgan system ischemia. The coincident comorbidities can increase the risk of traditional treatments for tumor embolus in each region.

Case report:

A young patient with previously unknown cardiac myxoma presented with seizure and was found to have stress cardiomyopathy, multiple cerebral large vessel occlusions with acute ischemic stroke, bilateral lower extremity tumor emboli and rhabdomyolysis, and renal tumor embolus with acute tubular necrosis. We describe a multidisciplinary approach applying cerebrovascular stent retriever devices in tumor embolectomy of the renal artery of a young patient with systemic morbidity, preventing safe laparotomy for open surgical tumor embolectomy.

Conclusion:

We describe 2-month renal function outcomes and the considerations in applying a neuroendovascular mechanical thrombectomy device within the renal artery. This was a radiographically successful technique and her renal function appears to be improving at the 2-month follow-up, although this is complicated by other renal insults and support.

Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy of superior mesenteric artery using a 5MAX ACE reperfusion catheter

Acute mesenteric ischaemia is a rare abdominal emergency that commonly results in bowel infarction and has a very high mortality rate. Therefore, prompt recognition and treatment are crucial for a successful outcome. A thrombectomy for embolism in the mid portion of the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is proposed. A near-complete thrombi removal from the main trunk of the SMA was achieved by using a 5MAX ACE reperfusion catheter, which was designed for treating cerebral embolism. This is the first report describing the treatment of acute mesenteric ischaemia using this catheter. Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy with this catheter is a useful modality for recanalization of embolic occlusion of not only the cerebral artery but also the SMA.