[Mesenteric ischemia in hemodialysis patients]

Abstract

Introduction: Mesenteric ischaemia is an abdominal pathology with a high mortality rate. Among the population under dialysis treatment it presents some different traits such as non-occlusive mesenteric attacks in most of the cases. Its diagnosis is difficult and it is usually the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration. It is necessary to know better the symptoms of this illness among dialytic patients in order to improve its prognosis.

Patients and methods: Eleven haemodialytic patients in our hospital (0.87% per patient-year) have diagnosed with mesenteric ischaemia confirmed by a laparothomy. We will list the main risk factors of this pathology, its symptoms, its evolution, some radiological and laboratory data more pointed out, the surgical findings anf its treatment.

Results: Ten patients (91%) had suffer from cardiovascular pathologies, five of them (45%) had suffer an ischaemia cardiopathy. Seven patients (64%) had a spell of arterial hypotension during their haemodialysis session, which preceded mesenteric ischaemia. The reason for consulting a physician was abdominal pain, specially on the right hemiabdomen (64%). The analytical date most frequently observed was leucocytosis (54%). The usual radiological tests such as abdominal plain radiography and ecography didn't give any detailed formation. Ten out of eleven patients (91%) had necrosis on the intestinal wall. The ileum was the most affected intestinal section. Five of the patients presented only a limited damage of the ileum (45%). Two patients (18%) presented an extensive damage in the whole small intestine and part of the right colon. Intestinal resection was the most chosen way of treatment, which was practiced on eight patients (73%). Only three of them (27%) survived the mesenteric ischaemia and were sent to their homes. The key factor of their survival was that they were operated on in less than 8 hours from their arrival at emergency room.

Conclusions: Mesenteric ischaemia must be expected among patients under haemodialysis who suffer from abdominal pain, especially if they have had some arterial hypotensive spells during their previous dialytic session. It s a matter of urgent surgery where not only its diagnosis but also its early surgical treatment can lessen its high morbi-mortality risk.