[Mesenteric infarction. 17-year retrospective study].

Almost half of our patients admitted with mesenteric infarction (MI) (n = 81) were inoperable. In the group (n = 44) who underwent curative therapy, 45% have survived, 32% died of recurrent MI and 23% from causes other than intestinal ischemia. In view of this high rate of recurrence our therapeutic strategy in MI needs to be reconsidered. Postischemic vasoconstriction may be the main cause of the progression of mesenteric ischemia despite apparently curative treatment. Selective injection of vasodilators in the superior mesenteric artery may improve prognosis.