The diagnosis of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery is often too late to save the patient's life. This is because the clinical presentation is often deceptive: signs are deceptively sparse and investigation is usually inconclusive at an early stage.
This condition should always be suspected in an arteriopath who develops unexplained abdominal pain. Prompt laparotomy to search for 'pale and pulseless' bowel is the best policy.
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