Laparoscopic "second-look" in the management of mesenteric ischemia

Mesenteric ischemia is a major cause of mortality in surgery. Despite the advances in medicine, considerable number of patients undergoes reoperations for a better assessment of intestinal viability. Although great majority of these second-look operations are "negative explorations," progressive nature of this devastating disease pushes surgeons to re-explore the abdomen. This study compares open and laparoscopic "second-look" procedures in patients with mesenteric ischemia. In the first group (n = 41), abdomen was closed and second-look laparotomy was performed to 23 patients. In the second group (n = 36), a 10-mm trocar was inserted before closing the abdomen and second-look intervention was performed by a telescope to 23 patients. Sixteen of relaparotomies in the first group (70%) revealed nothing and were unnecessary. Two patients (8%) in the laparoscopy group needed re-resection while 20 patients (87%) were rescued from unnecessary laparotomies. Conclusively, patients with mesenteric ischemia are "ill enough" to deserve the "minimal invasion" spirit of laparoscopic surgery.