Mesenteric Ischaemia (Acute) Flashcards
What is acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Acute mesenteric ischaemia is the sudden decrease in the blood supply to the bowel, resulting in bowel ischaemia and, if not promptly treated, death.
What are the common causes of acute mesenteric ishcaemia?
The common causes of acute mesenteric ischaemia can be classified into:
- Thrombus-in-situ (Acute Mesenteric Arterial Thrombosis, AMAT)
- Embolism (Acute Mesenteric Arterial Embolism, AMAE)
- Non-occlusive cause (Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia, NOMI)
- Venous occlusion and congestion (Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, MVT)
Briefly differentiate between the various causes of acute meseteric ischaemia
Note:
- Thrombus-in-situ (Acute Mesenteric Arterial Thrombosis, AMAT)
- Embolism (Acute Mesenteric Arterial Embolism, AMAE)
- Non-occlusive cause (Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia, NOMI)
- Venous occlusion and congestion (Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, MVT)
What are the risk factors for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
The risk factors for acute mesenteric ischaemia depend on the underlying cause.
Specifically, however for AMAE, the main reversible risk factors are smoking, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension, much the same as for chronic mesenteric ischaemia.
What are the clinical features of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Traditionally, mesenteric ischaemia presents with a generalised abdominal pain, out of proportion to the clinical findings, although it can often be more variable or subtle than this. The patient will typically complain of a diffuse and constant pain, with associated nausea and vomiting in around 75% of cases.
Abdominal examination will often reveal non-specific tenderness, with no specific clinical signs. In later stages (especially if the bowel has perforated), patients will have features of globalised peritonism.
Give example of potential embolic sources causing acute mesenteric ischaemia
Embolic sources, such as atrial fibrillation or heart murmurs, that may provide a suggestion to the underlying cause.
What investigations should be ordered for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Note: laboratory
An arterial blood gas (ABG) should be performed urgently, to assess the degree of acidosis and serum lactate, secondary to the severity of bowel infarction (however these can be normal, even in severe cases).
Routine blood tests that should be performed, including FBC, U&Es, clotting (especially if patient anti-coagulated), amylase and LFTs (if the coeliac trunk is affected, ischaemia of the liver may cause derangement), as well as a group and save.
Give examples of causes of a rise in amylase
Whilst an amylase is commonly measured to exclude pancreatitis as a cause of the abdominal pain, counter-intuitively amylase also rises in mesenteric ischaemia, as well as ectopic pregnancy, bowel perforation and diabetic ketoacidosis.
What investigations should be ordered for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Note: imaging
The definitive diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischaemia, for both arterial and venous mesenteric disease, requires a CT scan with IV contrast (as a triple phase scan, with thin slices taken in the arterial phase).
How does arterial bowel ischaemia present on CT?
Arterial bowel ischaemia will initially show on CT imaging as oedematous bowel, secondary to the ischaemia and vasodilatation, before progressing to a loss of bowel wall enhancement and then to pneumatosis.
Why should oral contrast be avoided in acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Oral contrast should be avoided in cases of mesenteric ischaemia due to difficulty in assessing for bowel wall enhancement.
Briefly describe the initial management in acute mesenteric ischaemia
Acute mesenteric ischaemia is a surgical emergency, requiring urgent resuscitation with early senior involvement. Ensure the patient receives IV fluids, a catheter inserted, and a fluid balance chart started. For confirmed cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics should be given, due to the risk of faecal contamination in case of perforation of the ischaemic (and potentially necrotic) bowel and bacterial translocation.
The patient will have a significant acidosis and is at high risk of developing multi-organ failure, therefore early ITU input to optimise the patient and for post-operative support is necessary.
Briefly describe the definitive management of acute mesenteric ischaemia
The location, timing, and severity of the mesenteric ischaemia, among other factors, will determine the surgical intervention performed:
- Excision of necrotic or non-viable bowel
- Revascularisation of the bowel
Briefly describe excision of necrotic or non-viable bowel
If not suitable for (or able to access) revascularisation.
Post-operatively the patient should be on the intensive care unit, planned for potential relook laparotomy in 24-48 hours; the majority of patients will end up with either covering loop or end stoma and there is a high chance of short gut syndrome.
Briefly describe revasculaisation of the bowel
Involving removal of any thrombus or embolism via radiological intervention; the decision for revascularisation is made depending upon the state of the patient, the bowel, and the angiographic appearance of the mesenteric vessels.
This is preferably done through angioplasty due to the risk of aortic contamination in open surgery, however open embolectomy is possible either through the CT, SMA, IMA or the aorta.
What is shown on the image?
CT Scan showing bowel ischaemia.
