ABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal complications following aortic reconstructive surgery are well recognized and are associated with a potentially high mortality rate. Contemporary practice, with advances in pre-and postoperative care as well as improvements in operative technique, have contributed to a progressive decline in morbidity and mortality after aortic reconstruction when compared to the past three decades. Nonetheless, maintenance of a low rate of morbidity challenges the vascular surgeon’s ability to identify and adopt new strategies to limit perioperative complications. Although an array of gastrointestinal complications (Table 1) have been reported following aortic reconstruction, severe morbidity leading to prolonged hospitalization and death can often be avoided by prompt recognition and expert management. An understanding of the setting in which these complications occur and the influence of patient comorbidities are key. As many as 50% of patients who have gastrointestinal complications require operative intervention, with reported mortality rates ranging from 16-67% (1-3).
