title: [Embolectomy in mesenteric ischemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective study on patients operated on for intestinal ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have carried out a retrospective study on 21 patients suffering from intestinal embolism, in whom an embolectomy was performed at the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. The diagnosis was based on angiography in 12 patients before operation. In the other nine patients the diagnosis was confirmed during operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After embolectomy the viability of the gut was achieved in 43% of patients (100% if the duration of the symptomathology was less than 12 hours, 56% if it was between 12 and 24 hours, and 18% if it was more than 24). The mortality correlated with the duration of the symptoms. Overall mortality was 57%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The only way to improve the survival rate is to obtain an early diagnosis, which could be achieved by performing a mesenteric angiography on all patients with sudden and vague abdominal pain and with a history of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía General y Digestivo, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lobo Martínez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meroño Carvajosa
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez Molina
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017128:Embolectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
vernacular_title: Embolectomía en la isquemia mesentérica.