Introduction
Acute mesenteric ischaemia is typically caused by an embolism resulting in occlusion of an artery which supplies the small bowel, for example the superior mesenteric artery. Classically patients have a history of atrial fibrillation.
Epidemiology
- Incidence: 25.00 cases per 100,000 person-years
- Peak incidence: 70+ years
- Sex ratio: 1:1
| <1 | 1-5 | 6+ | 16+ | 30+ | 40+ | 50+ | 60+ | 70+ | 80+ |
Clinical features
The abdominal pain is typically severe, of sudden onset and out-of-keeping with physical exam findings.
Management
Management
- urgent surgery is usually required
- poor prognosis, especially if surgery delayed