Abstract:Objective:To assess the early diagnosis of acute mesenteric artery embolism and the clinical outcome of embolectomy.
Methods :The clinical data of 21 patients with superior mesenteric artery embolism between 1999 and 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the operation time interval after onset of symptoms. Group I (n=9): patients were operated on in the first 6 hours after onset of symptoms; group II (n=12): patients were operated on more than 6 hours after onset. Urokinase administration directly into the superior mesenteric artery was an additional procedure during the embolectomy, and postoperative heparin anticoagalation was used in all patients.
Results:The circulation of the intestine returned to normal in 12 patients (all of the 9 patients in group I and 3 patients in group II) 30 minutes after embolectomy and administration of urokinase. Segmental intestinal resection was necessary in 4 patients and extended intestinal resection in 5 patients in group II.The motality of group II was 41.6% and 0 in group I.
Conclusions:Early recognition and prompt treatment can reduce the incidence of bowel necrosis and mortality rate of patients with superior mesentevic artery embolism.