ABSTRACT
A thrombosis is a solid mass formed from blood constituents that develops within flowing blood. The most frequent site is in the deep veins of the calf. The less common popliteal, femoral, or ilio-femoral thrombi are more serious due to the much higher risk of pulmonary embolism. Chronic venous insufficiency due to impairment of venous return results in increased venous pressure and oedema. This leads to venous eczema and lipodermatosclerosis. The patient presents with a catastrophic gastrointestinal bleed. There may be a herald bleed prior to this which is minor and self-limiting. The time interval between the herald bleed and massive blood loss may be hours or even months. Acute mesenteric ischaemia can affect any part of the alimentary tract but most commonly affects the small bowel or colon. The artery most often involved is the superior mesenteric artery either through thrombus formation or embolus from a proximal source.
