chronic mesenteric ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) usually results from long-standing atherosclerotic disease of 2 or more mesenteric vessels. [1] Other nonatheromatous causes of CMI include the vasculitides, such as Takayasu arteritis. Symptoms are caused by the gradual reduction in blood flow to the intestine. [2] (See Presentation.) In 1958, Shaw and Maynard described the first thromboendarterectomy of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for the treatment of both acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and CMI. Several other surgical procedures have since been attempted, ranging from reimplantation of the visceral branch into the adjacent aorta to using an autogenous vein graft. In 1972, Stoney and Wylie introduced transaortic visceral thromboendarterectomy and aortovisceral bypass, which have proved to be highly effective techniques.