Operative revascularization of visceral arteries in chronic mesenteric ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is mostly the result of atherosclerotic occlusive processes of unpaired mesenteric arteries. Operative procedures are preferred in cases of occlusion of a long vessel segments and/or highly calcified stenoses near the ostium. Frequently, bypasses are constucted from the aorta to visceral arteries and autologous veins should be preferred. Due to atherosclerotic alterations aortic bypass anastomoses are difficult and prone to complications. Based on case descriptions a surgical technique is presented that simplifies the aortovisceral artery bypass procedure. In all 6 patients the bypasses were open after 27 months and the average increase in body weight was 13 kg within the first postoperative 6 months.