[Ischemia-reperfusion of the colon following clamping of the abdominal aorta]

Aortic cross-clamping is the cornerstone of abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. The transient ischemia of the inferior hemisoma, and mainly of the large bowel, is then a current condition, usually well tolerated. At the time of vascular clamps removal, the ischemia-reperfusion syndrome may take place, and evolution toward multiple organ failure is an actual risk. The large bowel has a crucial role in the sequence of events causing ischemia-reperfusion syndrome, even when intestinal ischemia is not evident during aneurysmectomy. In this paper, current concepts of ischemia-reperfusion syndrome are reviewed, and the role of the colon after abdominal aortic cross-clamping for aneurysmectomy is focused. Principles of prevention of MOF from ischemia-reperfusion syndrome are pointed out.