Superior mesenteric artery embolism after resection of left ventricular aneurysm.

A rare complication of superior mesenteric embolism following resection of a ventricular aneurysm is reported. A 45-year-old male patient underwent left ventricular aneurysm resection under cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirty-six hours after surgery the patient developed an acute superior mesenteric artery embolus with a gangrenous small bowel; this necessitated resection of more than 90% of the small intestine. To the best of our knowledge, the successful outcome of a superior mesenteric embolization following resection of the ventricular aneurysm under cardiopulmonary bypass is here recorded for the first time.