Out of 9 superior mesenteric artery (SMA) revascularizations made in emergency, only an early direct aortic reimplantation was successful. The other cases were bypasses and their failures were due either to shock at revascularization (2 cases), or to thrombosis of a by-pass (4 cases), or to persistent ischemic lesions (2 cases). It is suggested: (1) that late mesenteric revascularization should be excluded and let place to extensive bowel resection, (2) that, in emergency, direct SMA aortic reimplantation is preferable to aorto-SMA by-pass.