Endovascular therapy for chronic mesenteric ischemia

Purpose The purpose of this article is to report on the effectiveness and durability of endovascular therapy for obstructive disease of the superior mesenteric artery and celiac trunk. Patients and methods Our retrospective study population included nine patients (five women, four men; mean age 64 years, range 34-83 years) with 15 lesions. The indication for endovascular therapy was chronic mesenteric ischemia. The technical and clinical success rates and the incidence of complications were determined. Follow-up parameters included maintained patency and sustained clinical benefit. Results Ten vessels were treated. The primary technical and clinical success rates were both 100% with no perioperative mortality. Major complications occurred in two patients (pseudoaneurysms). During a mean follow-up of 31 +/- 18 months (range 3-60 months), thrombosis occurred in two patients at 1 and 3 months after the procedures, respectively. Thrombosis was successfully treated by catheter-directed intraarterial thrombolysis followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (n = 1) or stenting (n = 1). At 2 and 5 years, the primary patency rate was 78%, whereas survival was estimated to be 85% and 68% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. At this follow-up, all patients had obtained relief of symptoms. Conclusions Our experience suggests that endovascular treatment for chronic mesenteric arterial obstructive disease is feasible, with a low incidence of complications and acceptable midterm results.