Patient survival after open and endovascular mesenteric revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term patient survival and causes of death after open (OR) or endovascular (ER) mesenteric revascularization for atherosclerotic chronic mesenteric ischemia using propensity score-matched comparison and clinical risk stratification.

METHODS: The clinical data of 343 patients treated with mesenteric revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischemia between 1991 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical, anatomical, and procedure-related variables were analyzed using a multivariate model to identify independent predictors of any-cause early and late (>30 days) mortality. Cause of death was retrieved from review of the National Death Index. Patient survival was analyzed using Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) comorbidity scores and propensity score-matched comparison based on independent predictors of any-cause mortality.

RESULTS: There were 187 patients treated by OR and 156 patients treated by ER. Early procedure-related mortality was 2.6% (9/343), including five OR (2.7%) and four ER (2.6%) patients. Median follow-up was 96 ± 54 months (range, 1-168 months). There were 144 late deaths, most commonly from cardiac causes in 35% (51/144), followed by cancer in 15% (21/144), pulmonary complications in 13% (19/144), and mesenteric ischemia in 11% (16/144). A further 21 patients died from various identifiable causes, and 14 patients (10%) died of unknown causes. Overall, 25 patients (7.3%) died of mesenteric-related causes, including nine early and 16 late deaths (OR, 10/187; 8.0%, and ER, 6/156; 6.4%). Multivariate analysis identified age >80, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage IV or V, and home oxygen therapy as independent predictors (P < .05) of any cause of death. Diabetes and CKD stage IV or V were independently associated with mesenteric-related death (P < .05). Late patient survival at 5 years in the OR and ER groups was 75% ± 4% and 60% ± 9% for low SVS risk (<9), 52% ± 8% and 43% ± 9% for intermediate SVS risk (9-16), and 67% ± 15% and 30% ± 8% for high SVS risk (>16). Using propensity matched scores, 5-year survival was nearly identical for patients treated by OR (60%) or ER (57%; P = .7).

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term patient survival after mesenteric revascularization was not influenced by type of arterial reconstruction. Age >80 years, diabetes, CKD stage IV or V, and home oxygen were independent predictors of any-cause mortality. Diabetes and CKD stage IV or V were independently associated with mesenteric-related death.