The role of bed-side laparoscopy in the management of acute mesenteric ischemia of recent onset in post-cardiac surgery patients admitted to ICU

Abstract

Purpose Acute mesenteric ischemia with non-occlusive mechanism (NOMI) is a possible complication after cardiac surgery in patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Since the diagnosis is often difficult with CT-scan, some authors have evaluated the role of bed-side diagnostic laparoscopy (DL). We aimed to contribute to this topic with a personal series. Methods We retrospectively evaluated patients admitted to ICU after cardiac surgery since 2009 up to 2019, successively operated on for a suspected NOMI of recent onset with non-conclusive CT. They were divided into laparoscopic (Ls) and laparotomic (Lt) group, depending on whether or not they had a DL. They were compared for the CT false-positive (FP) and true-positive (TP) rate and the surgical outcome. Results Seventy-three patients were enrolled. Lt included 30 patients (41%), Ls 43 (59%). The overall FP were 38 (52%), with a higher incidence in Ls. There was no difference in the mortality rate. The morbidity rate was higher in Lt, and especially in Lt-FP. The TP were 35 (47.9%). The mean operating time (OT) in the Lt-TP group was similar to the sum of the mean OT of the laparotomies plus that of the laparoscopies in the Ls-TP group. Conversely, when considering only laparotomic procedures, the Lt-TP had higher mean OT, such as an increased blood loss CONCLUSIONS: Post-cardiosurgical patients admitted to ICU have a relatively high rate of NOMI, in which CT-scan is often initially non-conclusive. Our data and those from the literature seem to show that in such cases bed-side DL may be an advantageous and safe procedure to avoid needless laparotomy and enables a more tailored open surgery.