Effectiveness of endovascular thrombolysis in acute mesenteric vein thrombosis

Background Mesenteric vein thrombosis (MVT) is a rare, often lethal, entity that accounts for approximately 10-15% of all cases of mesenteric ischemia [1,2]. Current indications for surgery in patients with acute MVT include signs of peritonitis, bowel infarction and hemodynamic instability. In all other cases, long-lasting anticoagulation is the strategy of choice [3,4], patients with MVT have a fairly good prognosis and long-term outcomes once appropriate anticoagulation is achieved [4,5]. At variance with the slow onset of recanalization that takes place during anticoagulation, thrombolysis leads to a rapid re-opening of a vessel, with immediate tissue reperfusion [4].