Acute mesenteric ischaemia, a highly lethal disease with a devastating outcome

Acute mesenteric ischaemia remains a serious condition requiring emergency, surgical management. The mortality rate still remains high, due to the unspecific and delayed diagnosis and ranges from 59% to 100%. Purpose of our study is to present our experience in the management of the disease.

This is a retrospective study of 61 patients treated surgically for acute mesenteric ischaemia, between 1988 and 2004. All patients underwent a laparotomy. 75% of the patients were operated within the first 24 hours and the rest within 48 hours.

Superior mesenteric artery embolism occurred in 36 (59%), thrombosis in 21 (34%) and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in 4 (7%) cases. In 49 (80%) cases, embolectomy or thrombectomy of the superior mesenteric artery with resection of the necrotic segment of the bowel was performed. Twelve cases (20%) were considered inoperable because of massive bowel necrosis. According to our study mortality and morbidity rate amounts to 75% and 80% respectively. No significant difference in the mortality rate between patients with embolism (75%) and thrombosis (76%) was found. However a significant increase of mortality rate was observed when the surgical intervention became afterwards the first 24-hour period. (72% versus 87%). Patients who underwent embolectomy or thrombectomy with bowel resection presented an improved survival rate compared with patients that underwent only bowel resection. (p = 0.019)

Acute mesenteric ischaemia has the characteristics of a highly lethal condition and only early recognition and appropriate treatment can reduce the potential for a devastating outcome. The reduction of time interval from the beginning of symptoms up to the treatment remains the main critical important factor.