Outcome of endovascular revascularisation in patients with acute obstructive mesenteric ischaemia - a single-centre experience

Abstract. Summary: Background: Acute embolic or thrombotic mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a rare but life-threatening clinical condition. Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances, the mortality rate remains high, between 60 % and 90 %. Over the last years revascularisation was increasingly performed by endovascular techniques. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse the clinical outcome of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and aspiration thrombectomy (AT) in patients with AMI with regard to technical success, intervention-related complication rate, need for secondary abdominal surgery, clinical course and 30-day mortality rate. Patients and methods: Thirteen patients (4 men, 9 women; mean age 74.5 ± 17 years) with 12 embolic and one thrombotic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) underwent emergent endovascular revascularisation of SMA. Clinical data including all imaging reports, laboratory analysis and follow-up data were derived from the electronic patient file and images were reviewed on a Picture Archiving and Communication System. Results: Eleven patients (n = 11; 84.6 %) underwent CDT and AT, and two patients (n = 2; 15.4 %) had AT alone. Technical success with complete restoration of SMA perfusion was achieved in 38.5 % (n = 5). Adjunctive angioplasty ± stenting was mandatory in 2 patients. Overall, the intervention-related complication rate was 38.5 %. In total, 46.2 % (n = 6) clinically improved following the intervention, while 38.5 % required explorative laparotomy after the intervention, with 2 colectomies and 2 small bowel resections. Overall, the 30-day mortality rate was 30.8 %. Conclusions: Endovascular revascularisation with CDT in combination with AT is feasible, with a technical success rate of 38.5 % (n = 5). Endovascular revascularisation was beneficial for 46.2 % (n = 6) of the patients, who clinically improved following the intervention. The need for secondary explorative laparotomy was rather low, with 38.5 % (n = 5) of the patients. The 30-day-mortality remains high with 30.8 %.