Laser Atherectomy to Treat Severe In Stent Restenosis of the Superior Mesenteric Artery

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is an uncommon disorder in the USA. Frequently, a percutaneous approach is the first therapeutic choice to reduce its symptoms and improve outcomes. After an initial treatment with stents, further interventions might be necessary to address in-stent restenosis and re-establish a better visceral flow. Using laser atherectomy in a similar fashion as used in the peripheral arteries, has proven to be safe helping to achieve a desired final result. We present a case of chronic mesenteric ischemia in a 53-year-old man caused by severe in-stent restenosis who had abdominal pain and weight loss. We used a 0.9 mm laser catheter with low energy and pulse rate as an adjunct to balloon therapy. After revascularization, the patient's symptoms improved dramatically. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case in which atherectomy with laser was used to treat severe in-stent restenosis of a mesenteric vessel in chronic mesenteric ischemia. Learning Objective The treatment of severe in-stent restenosis of the superior mesenteric artery using laser atherectomy is safe and can give excellent results when traditional percutaneous therapies fail.