Strong Heart and Vascular Center

Division of Vascular Surgery

Contact Us New Patients If you'd like to schedule an appointment, call us at 585-341-7030. Existing Patient If you need a Patient Prescription Form, call us at 585-341-7030. Referring Physicians To refer a patient for a consultation, call us at 585-341-7030.

Visceral Artery Conditions

What are Visceral Artery Conditions?

Visceral artery conditions are acute (sudden) or chronic (develop over time) conditions that affect the major arteries supplying blood to the intestines, spleen, and liver. The conditions are characterized by a severe reduction of blood flow usually caused by atherosclerotis ("hardening of the arteries"). More rarely, visceral artery conditions involve aneurysms, balloon-like weak areas in the arteries. These conditions are treatable to restore blood flow.

Symptoms of Visceral Artery Conditions

Symptoms of Acute Visceral Artery Conditions, include:

• Severe abdominal pain
  ( occurs when blood supply to an abominal organ is suddenly stopped by a blood clot. This blockage can be life-threatening - immediate treatment is essential.)
• Vomit
• Bloody stools
• Drop in blood pressure

Symptoms of Chronic Visceral Ischemia - the gradual narrowing of an affected artery or arteries, include:

• Pain in the abdomen most noticeable after meals
• Changes in eating habits (because of the pain) eventually lead to substantial weight loss

• Arteriogram
• Duplex ultrasound
• CT scanning
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

Treatment Options

Acute visceral ischemia (narrowing of the arteries) can be treated by:

• Thrombolysis

In nonemergency conditions, severe narrowing or a visceral artery can be treated with:

• Endarterectomy
• Surgical bypass
• Angioplasty and stenting

Aneurysms can be treated by:

• Monitored carefully for increases in size
• Operated on soon after diagnosis if they are large enough to threaten rupture and internal bleeding.
• Endovascular stent grafting
• Embolization
• Ligation