Non-occlusive mesenterial ischaemia (NOMI) is an important clinical entity, the danger of which is frequently underrated. It is due to a restricted flow through the splanchnic vessels as a result of a process not directly associated with the digestive system. Either it is a question of general deterioration of the circulation or the effect of drugs which cause deterioration of the mesenterial blood flow. This condition along with the subsequent intestinal vasoconstriction leads to ischae- mic affection of the gut of varying intensity, from superficial mucosal changes to necrosis of the entire intestinal wall. The authors present the case-history of a 71-year-old woman with generali- zed arteriosclerosis and protracted hypotension of cardiogenic origin on the background of which NOMI developed. The authors describe the course of the disease where after a short period of non-specific symptoms the patient developed diarrhoea and stricture of the distal ileum. Gra- dually she developed sepsis leading to shock and death. They give an account of the asset of different diagnostic methods – physical examination, ultrasonography, enteroclysis, computed tomography and angiography. In the discussion they submit an account of contemporary views on this not very frequent but clinically important disease.

        Key words: non-occlusive mesenterial ischaemia – intestinal ischaemia – splanchnic vasoconstric- tion