Chronic intestinal ischemia.

Fifteen patients with chronic ischemia of the intestine underwent mesenteric revascularization at the Clinic between 1964 and 1975. Diagnosis was established by strict interpretation of historical and physical findings and the results of lateral abdominal aortography. Three patients had acute ischemia of the intestine immediately following diagnostic arteriography and an operation was required immediately. Vascular reconstruction of selected visceral arteries included the insertion of a bypass graft, endarterectomy and reimplantation of the superior mesenteric artery. Ten of the 15 patients had clearly good results, one patient had only fair relief and four patients had poor results, with one operative death. Surgical results of mesenteric revascularization, in large measure, reflect the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis and patient selection.