Mesenteric Arterial Insufficiency Following Abdominal Aortic Resection

Abstract

GRADUAL development of an occlusive lesion of the celiac, superior mesenteric, or inferior mesenteric arteries is rarely associated with symptoms of mesenteric arterial insufficiency. The collateral system is usually adequate to furnish sufficient blood flow to the intestine when a single mesenteric artery is involved and may do so even when two are involved.^1-4 The most important mesenteric collateral vessel, which develops as a result of visceral arterial occlusion, is a large tortuous and elongated artery which has been referred to by several names, including mesomesenteric artery, central anastomotic artery, and finally, the most descriptive one, meandering mesenteric artery.⁵ This collateral vessel has usually been noted to occur in association with occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. It has also been rarely encountered with aortic occlusion between the origins of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, as well as with occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery. In this