Traumatic mesenteric bleeding: early diagnosis and interventional management

We report a rare case of mesenteric bleeding following blunt abdominal trauma successfully treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the ileal artery branch. A 27-year-old man presented with mesenteric bleeding after motorcycle accident. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated mesenteric hematoma with extravasation of contrast material, and no associated major injuries to other organs. A superior mesenteric angiogram revealed pseudoaneurysm of the ileal branch. After TAE with a single microcoil, control angiography showed cessation of bleeding. There was no need for repeat embolization or additional surgery due to mesenteric bleeding nor ischemic gastrointestinal complications during the 5 months following TAE. In isolated mesenteric injuries, TAE may be a reasonable minimally invasive alternative to emergency laparotomy.