Primary mesenteric infarction

Primary mesenteric infarction has occurred in eighteen patients in ten years, or about twice a year at a 600 bed community hospital. Usually it has been misdiagnosed and appropriate treatment was delayed. The typical patient is in the age range in which arteriosclerosis appears and has complaints suggestive of intestinal obstruction or gastroenteritis. Abdominal roentgenograms were interpreted as showing intestinal obstruction in three-fourths of these patients.Most of the patients showed clinical and chemical evidence of dehydration. Serum amylase level is often elevated. With more vigorous preoperative intravenous fluid administration and early operation, the prognosis in these patients might be significantly improved.