Successful endovascular treatment of severe chronic mesenteric ischemia facilitated by intraoperative positioning system image guidance.

We report our initial experience using the intraoperative positioning system (IOPS), a novel endovascular navigation system that does not require contrast or radiation, in the treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). We used IOPS to help treat three of four consecutive patients with CMI. Technical problems prevented successful use in one patient. For the patients for whom IOPS was used effectively, catheterization of the mesenteric artery was accomplished more quickly than for the patient for whom IOPS was not effective. Our experience has shown that IOPS can be safely and effectively used for CMI and can reduce the contrast load and radiation dose.