Mesenteric Ischemia: When to Operate, What to Resect, and When to Reoperate

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a rare and a notoriously difficult diagnosis to make, as presentation can be non-specific and there are no reliable biochemical markers specific to the diagnosis. A high level of clinical suspicion along with imaging findings help are the most helpful in diagnosing this disease with a high mortality rate. This chapter aims to highlight the classification of acute mesenteric ischemia—arterial embolism, arterial thrombosis, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia, and venous thrombosis—as well as the management options of each type of AMI, which differs depending on etiology.