A rare case of acute congestive ischaemic colitis related to combined superior and inferior mesenteric arteriovenous malformations

Visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are extremely rare with only a few cases described within the literature. To date, no cases of ischaemic colitis related to arteriovenous malformations affecting both superior and inferior mesenteric arteries have been reported. We report the first case of acute ischaemic colitis caused by venous congestion and reduced arterial flow due to combined AVMs in the territory of superior and inferior mesenteric arteries in a 51-year-old patient. After a multidisciplinary meeting, interventional radiology embolization was considered to be of unlikely benefit due to extensive varicosities; therefore, surgical treatment in the form of open subtotal colectomy and end ileostomy was performed. This case report demonstrates the severity and the complexity in the management of AVM-related ischaemic colitis, together with a review of the literature.