Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the superior mesenteric artery: late results of reconstructive surgery.

Between 1975 and 1988, 103 patients underwent reconstruction of the superior mesenteric artery for atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Patients undergoing revascularization with associated mesenteric infarction were excluded. There were 89 men and 14 women whose mean age was 57.2 years. Six patients were operated on emergently for impending mesenteric infarction; six patients underwent revascularization after intestinal resection for ischemic lesions; 20 patients had typical abdominal angina; 39 patients had nonspecific abdominal symptoms, and 32 patients underwent revascularization of their superior mesenteric artery for asymptomatic lesions. Revascularization of the celiac axis and inferior mesenteric artery was associated in 36 and four cases, respectively. Four patients (4%) died postoperatively. Four early occlusions (4%) were observed. During the follow-up period (mean = 69 months), 18 patients died; five patients had recurrent intestinal ischemic symptoms, four of whom died. All surviving patients underwent follow-up duplex scanning, examination, and arterial or venous digitalized angiograms in selected cases. Nine patients (9%) had anatomical abnormalities: two stenoses and seven occlusions. Failure of revascularization of the superior mesenteric artery was observed in patients with severe initial intestinal ischemia. Late complications were not statistically significantly related to the different techniques of revascularization used.