TY - JOUR T1 - Acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion: problems of pre-operative diagnosis JF - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners JO - J R Coll Gen Pract SP - 517 LP - 518 VL - 29 IS - 206 AU - John Fry Y1 - 1979/09/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/29/206/517.abstract N2 - I report five cases of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery from one general practice; four of these occurred in one year. The common clinical features were: acute diarrhoea and vomiting in elderly persons (all over 70) with abdominal pain and distension and shock. All had a previous history of auricular fibrillation and cardiac failure and past episodes of clinical arterial occlusive disorders had been experienced by four. Each diagnosis was confirmed at operation and all five patients died. It is important for general practitioners to recognize this syndrome. ER -