Acute mesenterial ischemia (AMI) is a serious illness with a low incidence, but with a very high mortality (60 to 70 %). The aetiology of AMI is either primary (embolism, mesenterial vessel thrombosis, nonocclusive mesenterial ischemia) or secondary (mechanical obstruction - gut volvulus, intussusceptions, compression by a tumour, etc). Whatever the origin of the illness, the pathological-clinical picture is always the samé: intestinal ischemia with resulting necrosis. 43 patients with primary AMI háve been treated at the First Surgical Department in Brno between 1994 and 2006. Patients with atrial fibrillation or myocardial infarction had a significantly higher prevalence of arterial mesenterial ischemia (p < 0, 05). Arterial mesenterial thrombosis was significantly higher in patients who smoked and who showed symptoms of hyperten-sion and of abdominal angina (p < 0,05).

        Key words: acute mesenterial ischemia, surgery, treatment