ACUTE MESENTERIC ISCHEMIA - CT AND PLAIN RADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF 26 CASES

The purpose of this study was to assess the computed tomography (CT) a nd plain radiographic findings of acute mesenteric ischemia, in an eff ort to elucidate its poor prognostic signs. The study group consisted of 26 cases with pathologically or angiographically proven mesenteric ischemia. The pathologically proven longitudinal extent of the bowel i schemia was graded using six degrees, and correlated with the radiogra phic findings. The mortality of the patients depended primarily on the extent of infarctions and the age of the patient. Patients with bowel dilation or abnormal gas in the bowel wall or portal system were pron e to have wider extents of ischemia. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.