Delayed Diagnosis of Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) Occlusion:
A Medical Emergency with Life-Changing Consequences
At Lupetin & Unatin, LLC, we represent patients and families harmed by medical mistakes, including dangerous delays in diagnosing serious conditions like Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) occlusion. While this condition is relatively rare, its consequences can be devastating—and in some cases, fatal—when doctors or hospitals fail to act quickly.
This article explains what SMA occlusion is, why early diagnosis is so critical, how medical providers may fall short, and what we do to help families find answers and accountability.
What Is SMA Occlusion—and Why Is Time So Critical?
SMA occlusion is a blockage of a major artery that supplies blood to the intestines. When this artery becomes blocked, the intestines are deprived of oxygen and can begin to die within just a few hours. This is a true medical emergency. Without immediate treatment, patients can suffer massive intestinal damage, develop severe infections like sepsis, or die.
This condition doesn’t happen often, but when it does, every minute counts. That’s why emergency room doctors, urgent care providers, and even primary care physicians need to recognize the warning signs quickly and act fast.
Warning Signs Doctors Should Never Ignore
- Patients with SMA occlusion often report:
- Sudden, severe abdominal pain—often more intense than expected based on a physical exam
- Nausea, vomiting, bloating, or diarrhea (which may be bloody)
- Signs of shock, like low blood pressure or rapid heart rate
- Abnormal lab tests: high white blood cell count, elevated lactic acid, or signs of metabolic acidosis
- CT scans that show suspicious findings, like blocked arteries or lack of blood flow to the intestines
Doctors are trained to know that when these red flags appear—especially in someone with risk factors—they need to act urgently. That means ordering a CT angiogram, calling a vascular or general surgeon, and not sending the patient home without ruling out something more serious.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Doctors should be especially cautious when treating patients who:
- Are over 60 years old
- Have atrial fibrillation, heart failure, or a history of blood clots
- Have atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or recent abdominal surgery
- Have a known clotting disorder or take medications that increase clotting risk
These patients need to be watched closely. If they show signs of abdominal distress, it is the doctor’s responsibility to take swift action.
When Medical Professionals Miss the Diagnosis
Unfortunately, we have seen many cases where patients were sent home from the ER, treated only for a stomach bug, or kept under observation without proper imaging or specialist consultation. In other cases, a radiologist may have missed subtle signs of SMA occlusion on a CT scan.
These delays can mean the difference between a simple intervention and life-altering injuries—or death.
At Lupetin & Unatin, we’ve helped families uncover errors such as:
- Failure to order appropriate imaging
- Misreading or ignoring CT scan findings
- Dismissing serious symptoms as constipation or indigestion
- Not consulting a surgeon in time
- Waiting too long to transfer a patient to a hospital with surgical capabilities
What Happens When the Diagnosis Is Missed?
If SMA occlusion isn’t caught and treated immediately, the results can be catastrophic:
- Sections of the intestine may suffer from loss of blood flow and oxygen (“bowel ischemia”) and die (called “bowel infarction”)
- Emergency surgery may be required to remove large portions of the intestine
- Survivors may be left with short bowel syndrome, requiring lifelong IV nutrition
- Others develop sepsis, lose multiple organs, or pass away within hours
These are outcomes no one should suffer—especially if earlier action could have prevented them.
How Our Law Firm Helps Victims of Delayed Diagnosis
If you or a loved one suffered severe injury—or even death—because of a delayed or missed diagnosis of SMA occlusion, our firm can help. At Lupetin & Unatin, LLC, our attorneys and medical experts:
- Review your medical records to determine if doctors acted too slowly or missed key warning signs
- Consult with board-certified experts in emergency medicine, surgery, and radiology
- Reconstruct the timeline of what happened to see when things could—and should—have been done differently
- Fight for justice and compensation for medical bills, lost income, future care needs, and wrongful death
We handle cases throughout Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania, and we have decades of experience helping families get the answers and accountability they deserve.
Contact Us Today
If you believe a loved one’s death or serious injury may have been caused by a delayed diagnosis of SMA occlusion, reach out to us today. We offer free consultations and will help you understand whether medical negligence played a role.
Lupetin & Unatin, LLC – Trusted advocates for victims of medical malpractice in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania.
Call (412) 281-4100 or email us to schedule a free case evaluation.