Ischemic Colitis

Ischemic colitis, also known as colonic ischemia, mostly occurs in people after 50 years of age. Acute ischemic colitis is usually caused by a blood clot (formed during a stroke, heart failure or operation of abdominal aorta), and chronic ischemic colitis is mostly a result of atherosclerosis of the large intestinal arteries.

Symptoms of Ischemic Colitis

• lower left abdominal pain;
• bloody diarrhea.

Diagnosis of Ischemic Colitis

A colonoscopy may show mucosal ulcers and biopsy may reveal submucosal bleeding. Abdominal arteriogram or MRI may show blocked arteries (1).

Treatment of Ischemic Colitis

Any underlying disease should be treated, and appropriate blood pressure and cholesterol level should be maintained. Patient should quit smoking and be active to stimulate circulation. Healing depends on the extent of arterial damage and patient’s overall health condition.

If death of an affected part of the colon (gangrene), colon perforation, or peritonitis occur, urgent surgical treatment is needed; in these cases prognosis is bad.