Acute intestinal ischemia. A 14-year retrospective investigation.
The records of 60 patients with acute intestinal ischemia treated between 1969 and 1982 were studied retrospectively. Fifty-three patients (88%) had thrombosis or embolus of the superior mesenteric artery and 7 patients (12%) occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein. Initial symptoms were obscure, although 25% presented with signs of peritonitis. The most frequently used investigation was plain abdominal X-ray with a positive finding in only 1/3. Forty-three patients (72%) were operated on. In 18 patients irreversible changes were found. Total mortality rate was 82%, in SMA-thromboembolism 85% and in SMV-thrombosis 57%. To improve the prognosis clinical awareness of the problem and attempts towards early diagnosis should be raised.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008642:Mesenteric Veins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery