Hypoxia and Medicine

Please tell me about recovery from Acute mesenteric artery ischemia?

My friend had this and it caused some intestine to die, so she had about a foot of it removed. She was only temporarily closed until today, and is still being kept unconscious. Her body is now weeping all over. The dr. says she is doing as well as can be expected. What is a realistic prognosis? She is 72 years old.

Public Comments

1. Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the intestine causes mesenteric ischemia. The arteries that supply blood to this area run directly from the aorta, the main artery from the heart. Mesenteric artery ischemia is often seen in people with hardening of the arteries elsewhere in the body (for example, with coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease). The condition is more common in smokers and in patients with high cholesterol. Mesenteric ischemia may also be caused by a blood clot (embolus) that moves through the blood and suddenly blocks one of the mesenteric arteries. The clots usually come from the heart or the aorta. These clots are more commonly seen in patients with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation. Surgery for chronic mesenteric artery ischemia involves removing the blockage and reconnecting the arteries to the aorta. A bypass around the blockage is another procedure. It is usually done with a plastic tube graft. In the case of chronic mesenteric ischemia, the outlook after a successful surgery is good. However, if appropriate lifestyle changes (such as a healthy diet and exercise) are not made, any problems with hardening of the arteries will generally get worse over time. Persons with acute mesenteric ischemia usually do poorly, since death of the intestine often occurs before surgery is done. However, when diagnosed and treated right away, patients with acute mesenteric ischemia can be treated successfully. Tissue death from lack of blood flow (infarction) in the intestines is the most serious complication of mesenteric artery ischemia. Take care always! MPLF.
2. Unfortunately, she's had gangrenous changes involving both the bowel and extremity and probably has a generalized bacterial sepsis. IV antibiotics may still work but it's pretty grave.