TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Mesenteric Ischemia A1 - Al-Zahrani, Hassan A. A1 - Lindsay, Thomas A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Kress, John P. PY - 2015 T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 4e AB - Acute mesenteric ischemia is an infrequent but deadly clinical entity. When diagnosis is delayed, it is almost always fatal; therefore, a high index of suspicion is required, especially in those at high risk: the elderly, those with cardiac dysfunction, patients with diffuse atherosclerosis, and those following aortic and cardiac surgery or arterial catheterization.The etiology of acute mesenteric ischemia may be embolic, thrombotic, primary vasoconstrictive, or secondary to venous thrombosis. Chronic ischemia is usually due to flow-limiting lesions (mesenteric stenosis or occlusions) in the presence of inadequate collateralization.Classic symptoms of acute intestinal ischemia are central abdominal pain (often out of proportion to the benign abdominal examination), weight loss (an important clue even in the acute presentation), bowel emptying, and altered bowel function (vomiting, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea). Once signs of peritonitis or bloody diarrhea are present, shock, sepsis, and death almost always follow.Arterial phase abdominal and pelvic computed tomographic (CT) mesenteric angiography is the investigation of choice, offering accurate diagnostic evaluation. However, selective mesenteric angiography offers therapeutic options, whereas duplex ultrasonography may not be definitive. Frequently, the diagnosis is confirmed only at laparotomy.Treatment is most commonly surgical, with restoration of flow by embolectomy, bypass, or angioplasty (antegrade or retrograde); vasodilator infusion therapy; thrombolysis and resection of nonviable intestine; and liberal use of “second look” laparotomy.Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) has a high mortality rate, and early diagnosis and treatment are important for improving survival in patients with this condition. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1107712084 ER -