A Staged Operation as a Surgical Strategy for a Patient with Type VI Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection

An isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection (ISMAD) is extremely rare among visceral artery dissections. Its diagnosis is made by abdominal contrast CT scan which shows SMA occlusion partially or completely. The ISMAD is classified into 6 types: type I–V has partial occlusion and treated medically using antiplatelets or anticoagulants. On the other hand, type VI has complete occlusion and must be treated by urgent surgical operation. We present a 67-year-old female who presented with sudden onset abdominal pain and melena. An urgent contrast CT revealed type VI ISMAD. She underwent 3 staged operations as follows: (1) first, as laparotomy showed pale color in almost the extensive length of the small intestine, arterial bypassing of SMA was undertaken using SMA to the right common iliac artery bypass; (2) as the second-look operation on the next day, the terminal ileum was resected, and the remaining small intestine was able to be preserved. However, when the abdomen was tried to be closed, systemic blood pressure decreased to pre-shock condition, so the abdominal wall was closed at skin level with silastic sheet. (3) As the third-look operation on the 7th day, ileostomy was created, and the abdominal wall was safely closed. The postoperative course was uneventful. This case study shows that SMA grafting and staged operations might be an option to preserve the length of the small intestine when ISMAD is diagnosed as type VI.