Detection of patients at high risk for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia after cardiovascular surgery

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a rare but life-threatening complication after cardiovascular surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential for a chance to cure. The aim of this study is to identify the independent risk factors for NOMI based on the evaluation of 12 cases of NOMI after cardiovascular surgery.

We retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with NOMI and 674 other patients without NOMI who underwent cardiovascular surgery in our hospital. We reviewed the clinical data on NOMI patients, including their characteristics and the clinical course. In addition, we performed a statistical comparison of each factor from both NOMI and non-NOMI groups to identify the independent risk factors for NOMI.

The median duration between the cardiac surgery and the diagnosis of NOMI was 14.0 (10.3-20.3) days. The in-hospital mortality of NOMI patients was 75.0%. Age (p < 0.05), peripheral arterial disease (p < 0.001), postoperative hemodialysis (p < 0.001), intraaortic balloon pump (p < 0.05), norepinephrine (NOE) > 0.10γ (p < 0.0001), percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (p < 0.001), sepsis (p < 0.05), loss of sinus rhythm (p < 0.05), prolonged ventilation (p < 0.0001), and resternotomy for bleeding (p < 0.05) showed significant differences between NOMI and non-NOMI groups. In the multivariate logistic regression model, prolonged ventilation [odds ratio (OR) = 18.1, p < 0.001] and NOE > 0.10 μg/kg/min (OR = 130.0, p < 0.0001) were detected as independent risk factors for NOMI.

We have identified the risk factors for NOMI based on the evaluation of the 12 cases of NOMI after cardiovascular surgery. This result may be useful in predicting NOMI, which is considered difficult in clinical practice. For the patient with suspected of NOMI who has these risk factors, early CT scan and surgical exploration should be performed without delay.