Mesenteric vascular occlusion in infants and children: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Mesenteric vascular occlusion is a rare disease in the paediatric age group. The pertaining literature is reviewed and two cases are reported. In the first one the vascular obstruction developed after a Wilms tumour on the right side had been removed. Following bowel resection and end-to-end anastomosis the patient died of uraemia. Post mortem examination revealed a diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis and pseudoxanthomatosis in the remaining left kidney, the function of which had probably been affected by the shock associated with mesenteric thrombosis. In the second case a mixed mesenteric vascular occlusion was found without any previous disease; after ileal resection and ileo-coecal anastomosis the baby made a smooth recovery.