Acute mesenteric ischemia is a serious abdominal emergency characterized by sudden interruption of intestinal blood flow that commonly leads to bowel infarction. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) embolism before extensive irreversible gangrene develops in intestine is important. A 63-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital’s emergency department with complaint of a sudden onset and worsening abdominal pain. The patient was promptly performed contrastenhanced computed tomography, which showed an embolus within the SMA. As there was no evidence of intestinal necrosis, rotational thrombectomy was started immediately. Thrombus aspiration was performed using a 6 French gauge Aspirex^® S catheter. Reperfusion of the mesenteric flow was established within 20 minutes. Nine months after the procedure, Doppler ultrasound showed that SMA was patent. Percutaneous revascularization with Aspirex^® S catheter may be a rapid, safe and promising alternative to surgery for acute SMA occlusion in selected patients who have no signs of advanced bowel ischemia.

Keywords : Aspiration thrombectomy; bowel ischemia; superior mesenteric artery occlusion