Ischemic bowel disease

Twenty-five cases with ischemic bowel disease seen over a period of 4 years are presented. Of these, 20 cases presented with acute symptoms and five with chronic symptoms. In the majority of patients, the diagnosis was established at operation and on histopathology. Occlusive disease of the superior mesenteric artery was the commonest cause of acute ischemia. Non-occlusive ischemia was not observed in any case. All the patients were treated by resection and anastomosis of the involved bowel. Vascular procedures were not carried out in any. No planned second-look procedures were carried out. Of the 20 acute cases, eight patients died and three developed complications. One chronic case died and there were no other complications in this group. We suggest that ischemic bowel disease should be considered while dealing with cases presenting as acute abdomen or with chronic abdominal pain.