Is routine postaneurysmectomy hemodynamic assessment of the inferior mesenteric artery circulation helpful?

All patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm treated during a 27-year per iod by one surgical group at the MidAmerica Heart Institute were included i n this study. A prospective routine postaneurysmectomy hemodynamic assessme nt of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) circulation was performed in a t est group of consecutive patients operated on by one surgeon. When a mean I MA stump pressure less than or equal to similar to 50 mmHg was found, the I MA was reimplanted. Postoperatively, patients were monitored for clinical e vidences of ischemic colitis. The occurrence of ischemic colonic injury was documented by colonoscopy, laparotomy, or autopsy. The incidences of ische mic colitis in the test group, a historical control group, and a concomitan t control group were determined and compared. Routine hemodynamic assessmen t of the postaneurysmectomy IMA circulation did not favorably affect the ou tcome with regard to the occurrence of clinically evident ischemic colitis.