Revascularisation of atherosclerotic mesenteric arteries: experience in 90 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVES: Visceral artery surgery is well known to vascular surgeons, but most have limited personal experience. We report our experience with 90 patients treated for atherosclerotic lesions of the visceral arteries during a 25-year period 1968-1993.

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

SETTING: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

MATERIALS: 54 women and 36 men, aged 56 (median; range: 34-78 years) underwent 109 consecutive mesenteric reconstructions. The indication in 90 primary procedures was acute mesenteric ischaemia of non-embolic origin in 25 patients, chronic ischaemia in 53 and prophylactic reconstruction in connection with aortic surgery in 12 patients. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was revascularised in 87 patients and the coeliac axis or common hepatic artery in six. Thus, only three patients had both territories revascularised. Thromboendarterectomy was performed in 15 patients, transposition of the SMA directly into the infrarenal aorta in 30 and bypass in 48 patients.

CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative symptom-free and survival rates.

MAIN RESULTS: The overall perioperative (30 days) mortality rate was 13%, mainly caused by the high mortality rate of 44% (11 patients) in the acutely operated, as the mortality was 0% in patients operated on electively and only one out of 12 patients (8%) died after a prophylactic operation. Nine of the twelve deaths were due to progressive mesenteric infarction. Cumulated survival rates were 81, 60 and 35% after 5, 10 and 20 years, respectively which indicated a mortality rate three times that of an age- and sex-matched Danish population. During follow-up symptoms recurred in 30 patients, more often following emergency surgery and SMA transposition.

CONCLUSIONS: Mesenteric revascularisation may yield long lasting results. However, surgery for acute ischaemia carries a high mortality rate, emphasising the importance of early surgery.