Mid-term follow-up of stenting in chronic mesenteric ischaemia: a review of six cases

Chronic mesenteric angina is a rare condition with high morbidity and mortality, which occurs due to stenosis or occlusion in the mesenteric vessels commonly due to atherosclerosis. Typically, patients present with worsening postprandial abdominal pain, chronic weight loss and fear of food. The condition can be treated by surgical bypass, but also by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of the affected mesenteric arteries. To assess the mid-term outcomes in patients treated by endovascular stenting for chronic mesenteric ischaemia (CMI). Six patients were treated for symptomatic CMI. In total, six severely stenosed vessels were stented including the superior mesenteric artery (n = 5) and coeliac artery (n = 1). A retrospective review of these patients was performed with end points including symptom recurrence, major morbidity and mortality. The mean follow-up was 16.5 months (range 5–28 months). Initial clinical success was observed in all six patients. Four patients were clinically asymptomatic, but died within 18 months after the procedure from other conditions. One patient suffered from recurrence of symptoms. Only one patient died as a consequence of mesenteric artery re-stenosis. Stenting of mesenteric vessels has shown excellent early and mid-term clinical success in selected patients. Though no direct comparison with open revascularization surgery was performed in this case series, technical and mid-term clinical success is promising.