[Acute mesenteric ischemia: analysis of cases over a ten-years period (2001-2010)]

Abstract

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a rare disorder; it occurs on average of 0.4% of acute surgery cases. Its diagnosis is often difficult because of the poor symptoms, and mortality of the patients is still as high as 70-90%.

Aims: The aims of the study were to assess the importance of time factor that may influence the outcome and to find out whether it is possible to decrease the high mortality rate in this disease.

Method: Among patients admitted to Saint Pantaleon Hospital in Hungary between January 2001 and December 2010, patients whose surgery or autopsy findings confirmed intestinal necrosis were analyzed. A total of 114 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia were included in the study.

Results: 55% of the patients had typical symptoms. 43.8% of the patients underwent surgery and among these patients the mortality rate was 70% despite surgical intervention. The survival rate was 72.3% when surgery was performed within less than 12 hours after the onset of symptoms, but only 20% of patients survived when surgery was delayed between 24 and 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Conclusion: With early diagnosis and intervention, patients with acute mesenteric ischemia may have a better a chance to survive.