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Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
Prognostic significance of red cell distribution width in acute mesenteric ischemia
1Department of Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is an infrequent, but complicated, life-threatening condition. Given this poor outcome, an estimation of mortality would aid in decision making for physicians, patients and their families. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is reflective of systemic inflammation. RDW is a remarkable prognostic marker for determining the risk of mortality in a wide range of clinical manifestations. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RDW and mortality in patients with AMI.
Methods:
The medical records of patients who underwent laparotomy with a preoperative diagnosis of AMI were reviewed retrospectively. Primary outcome variable was the hospital mortality rate.
Results:
Estimating the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve showed that RDW has good discriminative power for mortality (area under the curve = 0.713; 95% confidence interval, 0.584-0.841). With a cut-off value of 14.85 for RDW, mortality could be correctly predicted in approximately 70% of cases.
Conclusions:
Increased RDW at admission was a predictor of the extent of necrosis and mortality in AMI patients. Further prospective studies are necessary to more accurately assess the importance of RDW in these patients.
Insights
Red cell distribution width (RDW) can predict mortality in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). Higher RDW levels at admission indicate increased risk, aiding clinical decision-making for this severe condition.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Clinical diagnostics
- Prognostic markers
Background:
- Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a rare but severe condition with high mortality.
- Accurate mortality prediction is crucial for patient management and family counseling.
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a known indicator of systemic inflammation and a prognostic marker in various diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between RDW and mortality in patients diagnosed with AMI.
- To evaluate RDW's potential as a prognostic tool for AMI outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for patients with a preoperative diagnosis of AMI who underwent laparotomy.
- Primary outcome measured was the hospital mortality rate.
Main Results:
- RDW demonstrated good discriminative power for mortality in AMI patients (AUC = 0.713).
- A cut-off RDW value of 14.85% predicted mortality with approximately 70% accuracy.
- Increased RDW levels correlated with the extent of intestinal necrosis.
Conclusions:
- Elevated RDW on admission is a significant predictor of mortality and extent of necrosis in AMI patients.
- RDW shows promise as a valuable prognostic marker in acute mesenteric ischemia.
- Further prospective studies are recommended to confirm and refine the role of RDW in managing AMI.
