Mesenteric stenting for chronic mesenteric ischemia

Mesenteric stenting has not been widely adopted for the treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). The recent availability of embolic protection and low-profile devices with the theoretical ability to decrease perioperative bowel necrosis, led us to begin using mesenteric stenting for patients with CMI. We review our initial experience to examine short-term outcomes.

We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who were treated by vascular surgeons with mesenteric stenting for CMI. Patients with acute mesenteric ischemia were excluded. We evaluated perioperative morbidity and mortality, restenosis, recurrent symptoms, and reintervention. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to assess events during follow-up. We also compared these outcomes with a historical control group of patients treated with open surgical revascularization.

Fourteen patients underwent mesenteric stenting over the past 3 years. Mean age was 73, and 64% were women. There was no perioperative or 30-day mortality or major morbidity. Early restenosis and recurrent symptoms occurred in 10% and 9% of patients at 6 months. At a mean follow-up of 13 months, 53% of patients underwent reintervention. However, 93% were symptom-free at their last follow-up. Compared with open surgery, stent patients had lower perioperative major morbidity (30% vs 0%, P < .01) and shorter hospital and intensive care unit length of stay (median 10 days vs 2 days, and 3 days vs 0 days, respectively, P < .01 for both). However, stent patients were seven times as likely to develop restenosis (P < .01), four times more likely to develop recurrent symptoms (P < .01), and 15 times more likely to undergo reintervention (P < .01). There was one death 13 months after stenting due to mesenteric infarction in a patient lost to follow-up. One patient was successfully converted to open surgery after a second restenosis. He had regained 20 pounds and was determined to be a better operative candidate than at his initial presentation. There was no perioperative or 30-day mortality or major morbidity with reintervention after mesenteric stenting.

Mesenteric stenting for CMI can be performed with low perioperative risk. However, stenting is associated with early restenosis and recurrent symptoms requiring secondary procedures. Patients with severe nutritional depletion or high surgical risk may benefit from mesenteric stenting for CMI, but close follow-up is required. Later open surgery can be performed for restenosis if nutritional status and surgical risk are improved, or repeat angioplasty and stenting can be effectively performed if operative risk remains high.