European Guidelines Address Management of the Diseases of Mesenteric Arteries and Veins

March 28, 2017—Clinical practice guidelines of the European Society of Vascular Surgery (ESVS) addressing management of the diseases of mesenteric arteries and veins has been published by writing committee Chair Martin Björck, MD, et al in European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (EJVES; 2017;53:460–510). In an accompanying editorial in EJVES, Prof. Jean-Pierre Becquemin, MD, reviewed the highlights of the guidelines (2017;53:455–437).

Prof. Becquemin welcomed this initiative of the ESVS Guidelines Committee that provides the vascular community with an up-to-date analysis of the recent literature and expert opinions, and achieves the aim of assisting physicians in selecting the best management strategy.

As summarized by Prof. Becquemin in EJVES, "These guidelines encompass acute and chronic arterial ischemia, nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia, venous mesenteric ischemia, aneurysms, and dissection. Data on epidemiology; pathophysiology; clinical presentation; diagnostic tools, including laboratory markers; imaging; and treatment options are reviewed and analyzed. Sixty-four recommendations have been made, the strengths of which are based on the European Society of Cardiology's grading system."

He added, "Thus, a balanced view is presented for each condition, which helps the decision-making process. Another important aspect of the guidelines is the clarification of the terminology and definitions that will help to harmonize future reports on the subject."

"In conclusion, the ESVS guidelines are an important achievement for their knowledge of these rare and sometimes lethal diseases. There is no doubt that most of the recommendations will be useful for daily practice and, as stated by the authors, they are probably the first step towards the development of international registries, which may provide answers to the remaining questions," stated Prof. Becquemin in EJVES.