Long-term results after surgery for acute mesenteric ischemia

Acute mesenteric ischemia is associated with high mortality rates, and little is known about the long-term prognosis of patients after initially successful surgical intervention.

Ninety patients were treated by vascular reconstruction or bowel resection, or both, between 1972 and 1993. The overall mortality was 66%. The outcomes and rehabilitational statuses of those 31 patients who were discharged from the hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Anticoagulation consisted of vitamin K antagonists in patients with venous thrombosis and arterial embolism or inhibition of thrombocyte aggregation in patients with arterial thrombosis and nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia.

In 31 patients discharged from the hospital venous thrombosis, arterial embolism, arterial thrombosis, and nonocclusive disease occurred in 19, 5, 5, and 2 patients, respectively. The 2- and 5-year survival rates were 70% and 50% and mainly related to cardiovascular comorbidity and malignant disease. Only one patient died after a recurrent attack of arterial mesenteric thrombosis. Twenty percent of the patients suffered from chronic short bowel syndrome after extensive bowel resection, but none required permanent parenteral nutrition.

Under appropriate anticoagulation there is a remarkably low risk of recurrent mesenteric ischemia. The impaired life expectancy of long-surviving patients is mainly due to cardiovascular comorbidity and malignancies.