Subacute superior mesenteric artery embolization with bowel infarction - A rare complication of catheterized angiography

Cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES) is an atheroembolization caused by cholesterol crystals from aortic atheromatous plaques. The reported incidence of CES as a complication of catheterized angiography, which usually presents as acute renal failure and blue toe syndrome, is low in clinical studies. Only a small number of CES cases presenting as acute mesentery artery occlusion after invasive catheterization have been reported. We report a case of a 73-year-old man with CES-caused subacute mesenteric artery occlusion followed by life-threatening bowel infarction; 24 hours after catheterized carotid angiography, he was successfully treated by emergent operation.