ACUTE INTESTINAL ISCHEMIA DUE TO OCCLUSION OF THE SUPERIOR MESENTERIC-ARTERY - DETECTION WITH DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY

The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of using Doppler so nography for the detection of acute intestinal ischemia due to occlusi on of the superior mesenteric artery. Between September 1993 and March 1995, abdominal sonography with Doppler imaging of the mesenteric ves sels was performed in 770 patients with emergency admissions for acute abdominal pain. In six cases, the diagnosis, based on surgery or arte riography and computed tomography, was acute intestinal ischemia due t o complete or localized occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. F ive cases of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery were correctl y detected by Doppler sonography These results suggest that Doppler so nography may be a feasible method for detecting acute intestinal ische mia due to proximal superior mesenteric artery occlusion.