Identifying Factors Associated with Non-mesenterovascular Pathology in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment for...

To identify factors that can help us to avoid a preoperative incorrect diagnosis of vascular occlusion by evaluating patients who underwent laparotomy with a probable preoperative diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), but later at laparotomy, were diagnosed to have a different pathology than AMI.

A total of 213 patients who were operated with the diagnosis of AMI were enrolled in this study. Based on their operational, clinical, and pathological findings, they were divided into two groups. Patient demographic data, along with the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, Charlson comorbidity index, history of previous abdominal surgery, and computed tomography (CT) findings were compared between groups.

There were 37 patients in Group 1 (non-mesenterovascular pathology) and 176 patients in Group 2 (mesenterovascular pathology). The percentage of ASA 4 patients was higher in Group 2, with 48.3%, compared to 35.1% in Group 1 (p-value: 0.028). Upon admission, Group 2 had a higher rate of pathologic findings on CT examinations. 21.8% of the patients with non-mesenterovascular pathology had normal intra-abdominal findings. In univariate and multivariate analysis for no-nmesenterovascular pathology, patient age less than 65, Charlson comorbidity index 1-2, INR level >1.2, history of previous abdominal operation, and pneumatosis intestinalis were identified as independent risk factors.

The possibility of non-mesenterovascular pathology in presumed AMI patients should be kept in mind, especially if the patients have a history of abdominal surgery, a low comorbidity index, an elevated international normalised ratio (INR), and are younger than 65 years of age.

Evaluating the significant parameters identified in this study among patients with a preliminary diagnosis of AMI may prove useful in avoiding misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgeries.