Supraceliac Aorta-to-SMA Bypass with Ileocecectomy for Acute-on-Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia Complicated by Bowel Necrosis and Perforation
Benjamin J. Pearce, MD
UAB Hospital

This case involved a 63-year-old female with a history of chronic tobacco use, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, who had undergone aortobifemoral bypass several months earlier at an outside institution. Shortly afterward, she developed progressive postprandial abdominal pain, alternating constipation and diarrhea, unintentional weight loss, and food fear. During a prolonged hospital admission, she underwent upper and lower endoscopy and autoimmune evaluation, none of which yielded a definitive diagnosis. She was dependent on total parenteral nutrition due to intolerance of enteral intake.

On transfer to our facility, she was found to have a high-grade occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), beginning approximately 3–4 cm distal to the ostium, caused by a bulky, calcified atherosclerotic plaque. The SMA origin was patent but significantly narrowed, correlating with her chronic symptoms. Given her worsening condition, surgical exploration was undertaken and revealed necrotic terminal ileum, a contained perforation, and localized peritonitis. A supraceliac aorta-to-SMA bypass was performed using a cryopreserved superficial femoral artery (SFA) graft routed through a retropancreatic tunnel, followed by ileocecal resection.

This surgical video demonstrates critical aspects of complex mesenteric revascularization. The technical elements of supraceliac aortic exposure, retropancreatic tunnel creation, and management of bowel complications provide valuable insights for surgeons encountering similar challenging scenarios. This case demonstrates the continued importance of open surgical expertise alongside endovascular techniques.