A radiological approach to the patient with acute, extensive bowel ischemia.

Abstract

A radiological scheme for the diagnosis of acute, extensive bowel ischemia was developed following experience with 27 patients. In all cases, angiography successfully identified those patients with occlusive superior mesenteric vascular disease. In those without mesenteric occlusion, an immediate postangiographic barium examination indicated those patients whose abdominal disease simulated nonocclusive intestinal ischemia clinically. Mortality was high despite a rapid, accurate diagnostic workup, suggesting that new therapeutic approaches to ischemic bowel disease must be sought.