Cardioembolic visceral infarction

Based on  the  analysis of  publications of  the  last ten years this article discusses the problem of renal and splenic infarcts resulting from acute visceral artery emboli as one of the potential causes of abdominal pain in patients with atrial fibrillation. It has been shown that atrial fibrillation is the  main etiological factor of  visceral embolisms. The results of a series of observations of visceral infarction are summarized, which, given the rarity of this pathology, allows us to form a complete picture of this pathology. The authors emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of this problem, focusing on the fact that it may be encountered by specialists from different medical fields – surgeons, cardiologists, and neurologists. The clinical manifestations of visceral infarction are described as highly variable and nonspecific, with pain, laboratory markers of  inflammation, and elevation of  lactate dehydrogenase and D-dimer levels being the most common. The authors emphasize the importance of high-resolution methods of radiation diagnostics, such as computed tomography with intravenous contrast and magnetic resonance imaging, to clarify the diagnosis. Particular attention is paid to the need for early diagnosis to enable revascularization and  preservation of  the  function of  the  affected organ, while late diagnosis emphasizes the prevention of recurrent cardioemboli and symptomatic treatment. The analyzed literature sources did not contain information about the development of  complications of  visceral infarction which would require surgical treatment. The  analysis of  the  late outcomes of  renal infarction showed the  development of chronic renal failure and malignant arterial hypertension in half of the patients. There have been no reports of the development of any complications and mortality directly related to spleen infarction in the analyzed articles. The article also addresses the issues of prognosis, effective prevention and treatment of cardioembolic visceral infarcts, emphasizing the need for further research in this area.

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