Material and Method: The present study took place at Department of General Surgery, Xiangyang Central Hospital of Hubei Province, China between January 2002 and December 2013. The clinical data of 40 cases of AMI were analyzed.

Results: Among 40 cases of AMI, 38 had to surgical treatment and two had thrombolysis in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) through interventional radiology. Twenty cases died; thus, overall mortality was 50%. Fifteen cases were subjected to surgical or interventional therapy within 16 hours after onset, and all of them survived. Twenty-five cases were subjected to surgical treatments over 16 hours after onset and five survived. There was significant difference between them (t = 3.4, p = 0.0009).

Conclusion: The key point to improve survival rate of AMI was early diagnosis and treatment. In the process of treatment, more attention should be paid on recovering blood supply of SMA, and the relationship between total excision of necrotic intestine and reservation of functional intestine. The operation should be handled properly to reduce the possibility of short bowel syndrome.

Keywords: Superior mesenteric artery, Acute ischemia, Diagnosis, Therapeutics