Abstract
Small intestine hypoperfusion/cessation of arterial inflow results in acute mesenteric ischemia and is due to embolic obstruction of the superior mesenteric artery or acute thrombotic obstruction (usually of an already diseased mesenteric vessel). Morbidity and mortality of this condition are high. Treatment involves conservative measures (oxygen, anticoagulation, i.v. fluids) as well as surgical (bowel resection, embolectomy, bypass) and endovascular (embolectomy, balloon dilatation, stent) intervention. Not all patients require surgery, but peritonitis or full-thickness necrosis mandates surgery in good-risk candidates. In poor-risk patients, palliation may be justified.
Ischemic colitis is the most common form of gastrointestinal ischemia, and more than 40 cases per 100,000 population are observed annually. The pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood, and the presenting clinical signs are non-specific. Symptomatic treatment requires hospital admission, with surgery only for perforation as an early complication or stricture as a late complication.
Chronic mesenteric ischemia usually results from atherosclerotic narrowing of the celiac or superior mesenteric arteries.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Recommended Reading
Nikolic AL, Keck JO. Ischaemic colitis: uncertainty in diagnosis, pathophysiology and management. ANZ J Surg. 2018;88:278–83.
UpToDate®: Acute mesenteric arterial occlusion
UpToDate®: Chronic mesenteric ischemia
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wichmann, M.W., McCullough, T.K. (2019). Ischemic Enteritis/Colitis. In: Wichmann, M., McCullough, T., Roberts-Thomson, I., Maddern, G. (eds) Gastroenterology For General Surgeons. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92768-8_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92768-8_20
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-92767-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-92768-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)