[Arterio-mesenteric occlusion of the duodenum in Chagas' disease]

The authors present eight cases of arterio-mesenteric duodenal ileus diagnosed in the Serviço de Cirurgia de Ribeirão Preto (São Paula--Brasil) among 2.573 surgical interventions of digestive tract performed in 15 years. Seven (87.5%) cases presented positive complement fixation test for Chagas' disease and signs of Chagas' cardiopathy and/or enteropathy. Comparing similar casuist studies published in Brazil, the authors suggest that American Trypanosomiasis must be considered as a contributive factor in the genesis of arterio-mesenteric duodenal ileus in Latin America.