TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 86. Mesenteric Ischemia A1 - Harkin, Denis W. A1 - Lindsay, Thomas F. A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Wood, Lawrence D.H. Y1 - 2005 N1 - T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 3e AB - Acute mesenteric ischemia is a relatively rare clinical entity, but 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 (stenoses 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 present, shock, sepsis, and death almost always follow.Mesenteric angiography is the investigation of choice, offering diagnostic and therapeutic options, whereas computed tomographic (CT) angiogram and duplex ultrasonography may not be definitive. Frequently, the diagnosis is confirmed only at laparotomy.Treatment is surgical, with restoration of flow by bypass or embolectomy, resection of nonviable intestine, and liberal use of “second look" laparotomy. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2022/05/26 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=2296692 ER -