Acute intestinal ischemia. A 14-year retrospective investigation.

The records of 60 patients with acute intestinal ischemia treated between 1969 and 1982 were studied retrospectively. Fifty-three patients (88%) had thrombosis or embolus of the superior mesenteric artery and 7 patients (12%) occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein. Initial symptoms were obscure, although 25% presented with signs of peritonitis. The most frequently used investigation was plain abdominal X-ray with a positive finding in only 1/3. Forty-three patients (72%) were operated on. In 18 patients irreversible changes were found. Total mortality rate was 82%, in SMA-thromboembolism 85% and in SMV-thrombosis 57%. To improve the prognosis clinical awareness of the problem and attempts towards early diagnosis should be raised.