- Common in old age (90% of cases above 60 years old)
- With previous history of polycythemia, DVT, endocarditis, atherosclerosis, AF, digoxin, danazole, gold, oestrogen, volvolous, strangulated intestinal hernia, vasculitis, systemic circulatory insufficiency, trauma, hypovolemia, sepsis, congestive heart failure, recent myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, after cardiac surgery or dialysis or radiation.
- Acute ischemic colitis caused mainly by mesenteric thrombosis and chronic by atherosclerosis.
- Divided to Occlusive ischemia and Non-occlusive ischemia– acute and chronic.
Clinical picture of ischemic colitis :
- Pain out of proportion to exam (20% to 30% are painless). The pain is usually postprandial because of the increased blood flow required for digestion. Decreased or absent bowel sounds. Occult blood that rapidly progresses to frankly bloody stool. Hypotension, tachycardia, fever, elevated WBC count, and lactic acidosis may occur if transmural infarction occurs and peritonitis develops.
- Intestinal perforation as a common complication.
Investigations:
Doppler ultrasounds, CT angiography or magnetic resonance angiography “Portal venous gas or pneumatosis intestinalis is diagnostic”. Colonoscopy.




Management:
- Conservative treatment: intravenous fluid, bowel rest, and broad-spectrum antibiotics helpeful in non-complicated cases.
- In acute Ischemia: Surgical revascularization, percutaneous angiography guided revascularization, intra-arterial infusion of thrombolytic or vasodilator agents, or systemic anticoagulation.
- In chronic ischemia: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or arterial bypass or endarterectomy.
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