Lederman E, Petit M L, Boruchowicz A, Lecomte-Houcke M, Dewailly S, Colombel J F
Services d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHU, 59037 Lille.
Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2000 Feb;24(2):225-7.
We describe a case of small bowel obstruction secondary to cholesterol crystal embolism in a 83-year-old man. Clinical symptoms were dominated by weight loss and vomiting. Small bowel barrium X-ray displayed a short and unique stricture of the jejunum. Atheromatous embolism was suspected in the presence of an aortic aneurysm. At laparotomy, a 2 cm stricture of jejunum was identified and a 6 cm length segment of small bowel was resected. Pathological features were consistent with cholesterol crystal embolism. The patient did well 3 months after surgery. This observation points out the nonspecific clinical presentation of gastrointestinal cholesterol embolism.
