Objective To analyze and summarize the clinical and laboratory characteristics and prognosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) patients in order to improve AMI diagnosis and treatment. Methods Medical records of 196 patients with AMI diagnosed at 18 domestic hospitals from January 2011 to December 2013 were collected, reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the total 196 cases, 50.00% of them were at the age ranging from 18 to 59 years, and 42.35% were older than 60 years. There were more male than female patients (59.69% vs 40.31%, P＜0.05). The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (164/196), vomiting (109/196), nausea (96/196), abdominal distension (78/196), intestinal obstruction (61/196), gastrointestinal bleeding (50/196), fatigue (28/196), fever (27/196), and diarrhea (24/196). The observed abnormal biochemical values included D-dimer (99/113), prothrombin time (122/181), elevated white blood cell count (111/118), positive occult test (74/196), and hypoproteinemia (105/196). The possible high risk factors were history of abdominal surgery (60/196), hypertension (40/196), and cardio-cerebrovascular disease (40/196). Before diagnosis, 102 cases received abdominal CT examination, and 58 received ultrasonography. There were 113 cases undergoing surgical treatment, 20 cases intervention therapy, and 63 cases drug treatment. Conclusion AMI is more common in males, at different age groups, but the proportion of non-elderly larger than the elderly. Its main manifestations are abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, abdominal distension, gastrointestinal bleeding, and intestinal obstruction, etc. We should constantly pay attention to the patients with risk factors, such as history of abdominal surgery, hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular disease and diabetes for the occurrence of AMI. Spiral CT angiography and abdominal ultrasonographic examinations should be performed as early as possible to diagnose the disease definitely.