[Angiography of the mesenteric artery 1976 to 1991. A change in the indications during mesenteric circulatory disorders?].

While the mortality rate in patients with acute vascular mesenteric insufficiency is extremely high when angiography is not performed, it can be lowered by consistent angiographic examination. In a period of 16 years, 62 patients were investigated by angiography. A primarily vascular mechanism had caused the condition in 59 patients. In 25 cases arterial embolism was found, in 11 cases arterial thrombosis, in 3, venous thrombosis, and in 20 cases non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia was present. The mortality was 53%. Thus angiography is indicated whenever there is any suspicion of a mesenteric vascular disorder.