Severe mesenteric traction syndrome is associated with increased systemic inflammatory response, endothelial dysfunction, and major postoperative morbidity.

The development of severe MTS during upper gastrointestinal surgery is associated with preoperative elevated plasma epinephrine and further a more pronounced proinflammatory response and damage to the vascular endothelium. The increased postoperative morbidity seen in patients with severe MTS may thus, in part, be explained by an inherent susceptibility towards an inappropriate secretion of PGI2, which leads to an increased surgical stress response and endothelial damage. These findings must be confirmed in a new prospective cohort.