Mesenteric Ischemia

Mesenteric ischemia is a morbid, potentially life-threatening disease that is associated with a relatively high mortality, often due to its late diagnosis. Currently, the incidence of mesenteric ischemia in the United States is low; however, the incidence is predicted to increase because of the aging population. Therefore, whether the presentation is acute or chronic in nature, the challenge for the physician remains early diagnosis through a high index of suspicion based on vague and often atypical presentations. Surgical intervention remains the mainstay of therapy. Despite ongoing investigations of the different treatment options, including single vs multivessel bypass, antegrade vs retrograde graft placement, autogenous vs prosthetic conduits, and endovascular vs open surgical repair, many questions remain unanswered. This review summarizes the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options, including both open and endovascular approaches, for acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia.