Successful conservative treatment of acute traumatic occlusions of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery: A case report emphasizing the importance of the visceral collateral circulations

RATIONALE: Blunt injury of major visceral arteries such as celiac artery (CA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are very rare but fatal, therefore, these injuries are challenging to trauma surgeons. The patient with occlusion of CA or SMA is theoretically viable by visceral collateral circulation. However, there are very rare cases in clinics. To date, there have been few reports of both CA and SMA occlusions after blunt trauma. Herein we describe our successful conservative treatment of patients with both CA and SMA occlusions. PATIENT CONCERNS: Fifteen-year-old girl suffering from schizophrenia was transferred to our hospital after a fall from 3-floor-height with a purpose of suicide. DIAGNOSES: An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast enhancement showed proximal CA and proximal SMA occlusions with surrounding retroperitoneal hematoma, however, distal parts of occlusion were supplied by the collateral vessels (enlarged marginal artery of left colon from inferior mesenteric artery and pancreaticoduodenal arcade). INTERVENTIONS: She was treated by only supportive care without anticoagulant due to retroperitoneal hematoma. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged 25 days after admission without complications. LESSONS: We think that our patient could survive because her vascular status was healthy and collateral circulations were plenty according to the young age. We believe that this case can provide a basis for ligation in these forbidding and handless major visceral arterial injuries such as CA or SMA.