1991 Volume 52 Issue 5 Pages 990-994
Over the past 14 years, 17 patients with acute mesenteric arterial occlusion (AMAO) were surgically treated at the First Department of Surgery, Kanazawa University Hospital and its related medical institutions. Among them, 14 patients (82%) had a history of cardiovascular diseases. Although all patients complained of abdominal pain, none had clinical signs of AMAO. Preoperative abdominal ultrasonography revealed some abnormalities in 12 (71%). In 11 patients (65%), the disease could be accurately diagnosed before operation. Resection of the necrotic bowel was performed in 16 patients, and thromboendarterectomy of the superior mesenteric artery in one. Four patients died (23%). All 12 patients who were operated on within 20 hours after the onset survived. Our results indicate that early diagnosis and treatment are essential in achieving excellent therapeutic results of this disease. Thus, screening of high risk individuals and subsequent prompt detailed examination with diagnostic imaging are necessary.
