Surgical treatment of intestinal artery aneurysms.

Intestinal artery aneurysms are usually asymptomatic. However, occasionally they occur as a vascular emergency and when rupture occurs, mortality rates of up to 75% have been reported. Therefore, elective surgery of asymptomatic intestinal artery aneurysms seems indicated provided that the procedure is safe with a low morbidity and mortality. We have reviewed the results of surgical treatment of eight patients with intestinal artery aneurysm who were operated on electively and seven who had emergency procedures over a 20 year period. Mortality was high when rupture had occurred, despite acute surgical intervention. After elective procedures however mortality and morbidity were substantially lower. Elective surgical intervention should therefore be performed as soon as an intestinal artery aneurysm is diagnosed.