Spontaneous Cholesterol Embolism Leading to Small Bowel Obstruction and Perforation

A spontaneous occurrence of cholesterol embolization syndrome causing small bowel obstruction and perforation is a highly scarce event. In this article, we report a case of spontaneous cholesterol embolism resulting in small bowel obstruction and perforation in a 52-year-old male with multiple cardiovascular and medical comorbidities. In our patient, the source was an eccentric left lateral atherosclerotic plaque from the abdominal aorta that was identified using computed tomography. A distal occlusion in numerous small intestinal arteries due to cholesterol embolism was confirmed on biopsy after surgical resection. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)