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Various branches of the aorta can be occluded by atherosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, or other conditions, producing symptoms and signs of ischemia or infarction. Diagnosis is by imaging tests. Treatment is with embolectomy, angioplasty, or sometimes surgical bypass grafting.
Acute occlusion of branches of the abdominal aorta may result from embolism, atherothrombosis, or dissection; chronic occlusion may result from atherosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, or external compression by mass lesions. Common sites of occlusion include
Chronic occlusion of the celiac axis is more common among women for unclear reasons.
Symptoms and Signs
Clinical manifestations (eg, pain, organ failure, necrosis) result from ischemia or infarction and vary depending on artery involved and acuity.
Acute mesenteric occlusion (see Acute Abdomen and Surgical Gastroenterology: Acute Mesenteric Ischemia) causes intestinal ischemia and infarction, resulting in severe, diffuse abdominal pain typically out of proportion to the minimal physical findings. Acute occlusion of the celiac axis may cause liver or spleen infarction.
Chronic mesenteric vascular insufficiency rarely causes symptoms unless both the superior mesenteric artery and celiac axis are substantially narrowed or occluded, because collateral circulation between the major splanchnic trunks is extensive. Symptoms of chronic mesenteric vascular insufficiency typically occur postprandially (as intestinal angina) because digestion requires increased mesenteric blood flow; pain begins about 30 min to 1 h after eating and is steady, severe, and usually periumbilical and may be relieved by sublingual nitroglycerin. Patients become fearful of eating; weight loss, often extreme, is common. Rarely, malabsorption develops and contributes to weight loss. Patients may have an abdominal bruit, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, and dark stools.
Acute renal artery embolism causes sudden flank pain, followed by hematuria (see Renovascular Disorders: Acute occlusion). Chronic occlusion may be asymptomatic or result in new or hard-to-control hypertension and other sequelae of renal insufficiency or failure.
Acute occlusion of the aortic bifurcation or distal branches can cause sudden onset of pain at rest, pallor, paralysis, absence of peripheral pulses, and coldness in the legs (see Peripheral Arterial Disorders: Acute Peripheral Arterial Occlusion). Chronic occlusion can cause intermittent claudication in the legs and buttocks and erectile dysfunction (Leriche syndrome). Femoral pulses are absent. A limb may be jeopardized.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based primarily on history and physical examination and is confirmed by duplex ultrasonography, CT angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, or traditional angiography.
Treatment
Acute occlusion is a surgical emergency requiring embolectomy or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stent placement. Chronic occlusion, if symptomatic, may require surgery or angioplasty. Risk factor modification and antiplatelet drugs may help.
Acute mesenteric occlusion (eg, in the superior mesenteric artery), which causes significant morbidity and mortality, requires prompt revascularization. Prognosis is poor if the intestine is not revascularized within 4 to 6 h.
For chronic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and celiac axis, dietary modifications may temporarily relieve symptoms. If symptoms are severe, surgical bypass from the aorta to the splanchnic arteries distal to the occlusion usually results in revascularization. Long-term patency of the grafts exceeds 90%. In appropriately selected patients (particularly among older patients who may be poor candidates for surgery), revascularization by PTA with or without stent placement may be successful. Symptoms may resolve rapidly, and weight may be regained.
Acute renal artery occlusion requires embolectomy; sometimes PTA can be done. Initial treatment of chronic occlusion involves antihypertensives. If BP is not controlled adequately or if renal function deteriorates, PTA with stent placement or, when PTA is impossible, open surgical bypass or endarterectomy can improve blood flow.
Occlusion of the aortic bifurcation requires urgent embolectomy, usually done transfemorally. If chronic occlusion of the aortic bifurcation causes claudication, an aortoiliac or aortofemoral graft can be used to surgically bypass the occlusion. PTA is an alternative for selected patients.
Last full review/revision January 2008 by John W. Hallett, Jr., MD
Content last modified February 2012
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