Abstract

From 1977 through 1991, 60 patients underwent operations for mesenteric vascular ischemia in Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery. Generalized abdominal pain in patients with cardiac diseases over 55 years was highly suggestive for mesenteric ischemia. Pathologic ECG findings aroused suspicion, but among screening tests only angiography confirmed mesenteric ischemia. The length of the gangrenous intestine was the most important variable on mortality. Our data indicates that early diagnosis and more liberal use of angiography seems to improve survival and reduce the mortality rate of 85%