Objective: Acute mesenteric ischemia is an occasional disease with poor prognosis and high mortality rate. We tried to find the demographic properties and mortality associated risk factors of the patients emergently operated due to acute mesenteric ischemia.

Materials and Methods: Fifty nine patients operated on due to acute mesenteric ischemia between January 2004 and April 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Data analysis was made according to the age, sex, coexisting diseases, preoperative laboratory findings and mortality.

Results: The mean age of the 59 patients was 69.9 (43-86), female to male ratio was 19/40. Fifty three (89.8%) patients had coexisting disease. The most common coexisting disease was cardiovascular in origin with 77.96%. Mortality was seen in 24 (40.7%) patients. When the mortality associated risk factors were analysed; age, sex, increased leukocyte count, hepatic enzymes, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were not statistically significant. The increased duration between the onset of symptoms and the operation, the increase in bilirubin levels were statistically significant.

Conclusion: Acute mesenteric ischemia is a disease of older age (69.9 years) and goes with a high mortality (40.7%). Coexisting diseases effect the rate of mortality in most of the patients. Early diagnosis and treatment would decrease the mortality.