ACUTE INTESTINAL ISCHEMIA - OPTIONS IN SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT

Seven patients (mean age 67 years, range 52-82 years) presented with a cute intestinal ischaemia over a 4-year period. Massive bowel resectio n was performed in an patients. Exteriorisation and secondary restorat ion of intestinal continuity was employed in four patients. In two pat ients a primary anastomosis was performed at the time of resection and one patient underwent a 'second-look' procedure. Massive bowel resect ion and exteriorisation allows direct observation of stoma viability, avoids the risk of anastomotic breakdown and should be considered in a ll but moribund patients with acute intestinal ischaemia. In elderly p atients resection and primary anastomosis may be an alternative option .